INcontext International: INfographics Issue 80: 31 May 2018

Profiles of some of today's HEROES OF FAITH "Let us be on the side of those who sit in jails and are sentenced to death for their faith. Let us pray for them and help them.” (Richard Wurmbrand)

IN PRISON ASIA BIBI (Aasiya Noreen) - PAKISTAN 53-year-old mother of 5

Accusation Blasphemy (Section 295C of Pakistan Penal Code - "defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed" - a capital offence)

Verdict Found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 in lower court

1– first woman condemned to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges 8+ years – time in prison $1,100 – the fine, in additio n to sentence 5 – no. of times appeal has been delayed ( adjourned indefinitely in October 2016) 2 – no. of politicians murdered (2011) who opposed the blasphemy laws and supp orted her

Current situation Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has said that Supreme Court will soon take up case of Asia Bibi (April 2018)

Other Pakistanis Imran Ghafur

6 May 2018 - I nterior Minister Ahsan Iqbal survived attempt on his life over stance on the blasphemy laws - had met with a group of Christians in his constituency before being shot

YOUCEF NADARKHANI – 41-year-old pastor, father of 2

Accusation (‘born a Muslim’ and ‘converted’ to ) in 2006, acquitted. Later re-arrested for apostasy and evangelism of Muslims in 2009. Re-arrested in 2016 for promoting “Zionist Christianity” and acting against national security.

Verdict Found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging in November 2010. Acquitted of apostasy at retrial on 8 September 2012, but guilty of evangelism and sentenced to 3 years (already served). Found guilty in July 2017, sentenced to 10 years in prison.

4 – no. of times imprisoned (2006, 2009, 2012, 2016) 400 – reported no. of people in his ‘home church’ (2009 )

Current situation Yousef and three other Iranians all convicted in 2017 and sentenced to 10 years, lost their appeal and sentences have been upheld (2 May 2018)

Other Iranians Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh, Saheb Fadaie, Ebrahim Firouzi

TWEN THEODROS – ERITREA 35-year-old Christian w oman

Arrest January 2005 at underground church prayer meeting

Never charged, tried or convicted

14+ years – in prison 1 – opportunity to es cape when given permission to stay with family in Asmara for a month because of health problem - voluntarily returned to prison rather than being smuggled out of the country

Current situation Willing to stay in prison as long as enables her to serve Him there by helping others

Other Eritreans Oqbamichel Haiminot, Mussie Ezaz, Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel, Kidane Weldou, Haile Nayzgi

YANG HUA (Li Guozi) – CHINA 41-year-old pastor, father of 2

Accusation “Divulging state secrets”

Verdict Found guilty and sentenced (January 2017) to 2 years and 6 months in prison

$1 million– the fine, in addition to sentence 700+ – no. of Living Stone Church members (his church, in Guiyang) 3rd generation pastor – Father spent time in jail in late 1960s for his Christian faith

Current situation Remains in prison but has had health issues. In January 2018, was ordered (with his co-pastor, Su Tianfu) to pay fine of 7 million yuan ($1 million) for “illegal income” (donations to the church from its members). Authorities confiscated church property, and sold it on 11 February 2018.

Other Chinese Zhang Shaojie, Zhao Weiliang, Cheng Hongpeng, Lacheng Ren, Alimujiang Yimiti

RELEASED Meriam Ibrahim Behnam Irani (Sudan) (Iran)

Arrested 17 February 2014 Arrested 31 May 2011 Released 26 June 2014 Released 17 October 20 16 Days Impri soned 129 Days Impri soned 1,966

Saeed Abedini Farshid Fathi (Iran) (Iran)

Arrested July 2012 Arrested 26 December 2010 Released 16 January 2016 Released 21 December 2015 Days Impri soned 1,215 Days Impri soned 1,821

Others who have been released Since January 2013

IRAN CHINA SUDAN KYRGYZSTAN Hadi Asgari Zhang Xiuhong Hassan Abduraheem Marat Niyaz aliev Amin Afshar Naderi Yang Rongli Petr Jasek Alireza Seyyedian Li Jiatao Kuwa Sha mal Shahnaz Jayzan Huang Q uirui TURKMENISTAN Davoud Alijani Cheng Jie Umid Gojayev Farhad Sabokro uh Wenxi Li AFGHANISTAN Naser Zamen-Dezf uli Gao Zhis heng Said Musa Mostafa Mohammad Bordbar Yang Xuan Shoaib Assadullah NEPAL Chhed ar Bhote PAKISTAN EGYPT KAZAKHSTAN Rimsha M asih Moha mmed Hegazy Yklas Kabdua kasov UZBEKISTAN Yuri Pak Tohar Hayd arov Bakhytzh an Kashkumbaev TANZANIA VIETNAM Eva Abda llah Nguyen Van Ly

SOURCES https://ww w.prisoneralert.com/ http://www.churchinchains.ie/ http://www.dw.com/en/lawyer -presidential-pardon-for-pakistans-asia-bibi-unlikely/a-42846365 http://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-asia- bibi-blasphemy-case-in- pakistan/202580 https://www.forb es.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2018/05/20/asia-bibi-will-be-given-another-chance-at-justice/#4438041a4e7a https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/news/9288-iranian-christians-jail-terms-upheld http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2018/may/4-christians-serving-10-year-priso n-sentence-in-iran-lose-appeal