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Indonesia | 14 years on death row: Timeline of Mary Jane Veloso’s ordeal and fight for justice

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MANILA, Philippines — The case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has spanned over a decade and remains one of the most high-profile legal battles involving an overseas Filipino worker. Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after she was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She was sentenced to death in October – just six months after her arrest. Indonesia’s Supreme Court upheld the penalty in May 2011.

Pakistan | Christian brothers acquitted of blasphemy; three accusers charged

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Pakistan is No. 7 on list of places most difficult to be a Christian

LAHORE, Pakistan — Two Christian brothers have been acquitted of blasphemy, and the three Christians who framed the brothers have been charged.

On March 1, Umar Saleem and Umair Saleem were acquitted following a police investigation showing the two had been framed, states the news services Christian Daily International and Morning Star News.

The brothers had been charged with committing “acts intended to outrage religious feelings,” defiling the Quran and making derogatory comments about Muhammad. 

The last charge carries a death penalty. In addition, the brothers were charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act for “stir(ring) up sectarian hatred.”

Although the brothers were acquitted and freed, they cannot return to Jaranwala for safety reasons, said Tahir Bashir, their attorney.

After the blasphemy allegations were made against the brothers, Muslim rioters estimated to have numbered into the thousands attacked Jaranwala on Aug. 16, 2023. 

Christian churches, homes and businesses were targeted. Hundreds of Christians fled.

The three Christians who made the accusations against the Saleems have now been charged under the blasphemy laws, the news services report.

Pakistan is No. 7 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.

Source: thealabamabaptist.org, Leigh Pritchett, March 27, 2024

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde



Location: Pakistan
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