Islamabad, Pakistan:  Ishtiaq Saleem, a 34-year-old Christian father and sanitary worker from Islamabad, has been in custody since November 2022 and now faces the possibility of a death sentence over allegations linked to social media content. Advocates say his case highlights the growing misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws against religious minorities and innocent citizens.

In Pakistan, online platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook are increasingly exploited for blasphemy accusations. Some individuals use deceptive tactics, including honey traps, to entrap people and extort them through fabricated charges. These laws are often wielded not only against those who criticize Islam but also against Christians and others who have done nothing to oppose the religion, leaving innocent individuals vulnerable to harassment, imprisonment, and severe legal consequences.

Saleem was arrested after sacrilegious images of the Prophet Muhammad appeared on his phone. He maintains that he was unaware of the images, which had been shared in a WhatsApp group and inadvertently downloaded to his device. Saleem insists that he neither posted nor shared the content himself.

Since his detention, Saleem has remained in custody, with multiple bail requests denied by lower courts and later by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which instructed the trial court to expedite proceedings. The trial has reached a critical stage, with hearings concluded for Saleem while proceedings continue for a co-accused, Muhammad Umair.

LEAD Ministries, led by Pastor Imran Amanat, is calling for prayers for Saleem’s case, as he is also a victim of systematic harassment against Christians. While the organization does not have the financial resources to directly aid victims, it continues to document cases, advocate for justice, and support minority communities through church planting, women’s empowerment, and pastoral care initiatives. LEAD Ministries warns that social media blasphemy accusations are increasingly used to intimidate, extort, and target innocent citizens who pose no threat to Islam.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries, said that Christians charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws often face double jeopardy: the constant threat of death or harm, combined with the struggle against poverty. In Saleem’s case, his arrest has left this young father’s family enduring severe hardships, struggling both for survival and for their safety.