Nationwide Manhunt Ensues for Pakistani Christian
Pakistani police are now on a nationwide manhunt in pursuit of a Christian man accused of blasphemy.
Nadeem Masih is alleged to have sent a derogatory poem about the prophet Mohammed to a Muslim friend and is now on the run for his life.
Last month, elders of Masih's predominately Muslim village reportedly demanded to know his whereabouts after he shared the poem on WhatsApp.
They issued a fatwa and offered a reward of about $1,000 for his capture. Local imams incited villagers to attack Christians there, demanding they hand him over.
Most of the 60 Christian families have fled the village, fearful of attacks despite the police presence. The Asian Human Rights Commission reports that police are doing very little to help them.
Police took Nadeem's two sisters into protective custody, but BritishPakistaniChristians.org reports they were arrested to convince Nadeem to give himself up.
Under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, anyone accused of insulting Islam or its prophet can be sentenced to death. The law, however, is often used to settle personal vendettas.
