Ayub Masih is a Pakistani citizen and a Christian who was arrested in 1996 when he was 26 years old amid allegations that he violated Pakistan's blasphemy laws. He received the death sentence (hanging) at a trial in which religious extremists reportedly threatened to kill him, his lawyers, and the judge if he was not convicted. These were not idle threats, as a trial court judge was killed in 1997 after acquitting two men accused of blasphemy.  Mr. Masih was incarcerated in Multan, Pakistan and suffered attacks from other prisoners, denial of medical care for severe skin allergies and hemorrhoids, and solitary confinement in an 8x8x8 cell where the temperature often exceeds 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mr. Masih was arrested after allegedly stating that Christianity was "correct" and that a Muslim neighbor should read Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses.  Following Mr. Masih's arrest, the Muslim neighbor was allocated Mr. Masih's land and the entire Christian population of the village was evacuated.  The complainant then shot and injured Mr. Masih at the trial court, but was never prosecuted by Pakistani authorities.  Mr. Masih denied that he ever made the statements that formed the basis of his conviction.

On October 8, 2001, Freedom Now board members Jared Genser and Fani Cyd Geroff submitted a Petition to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights' Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Mr. Masih's behalf alleging that his arrest, trial, incarceration, and death sentence violate fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to Mr. Masih under international law.   After considering the Pakistani government's reply, the Working Group issued Opinion No. 25/2001 (Pakistan) on November 30, 2001, finding that Mr. Masih was being arbitrarily deprived of his liberty in contravention of Articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  In addition, the Working Group urged the Government of Pakistan to take steps to remedy the situation.

Towards the end of July 2002, Freedom Now facilitated the delivery of a letter from 12 U.S. Senators (one Senator signed separately) calling for Ayub Masih's release.  Signatories to that letter included Senators Brownback, Leahy, and Wellstone, all well-positioned in the Congress to impact U.S. policy towards Pakistan.

With pressure on the Pakistanis growing, the Government accelerated the date of the hearing before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.  On August 15, 2002, a three-judge panel of the Supreme Court sitting in Islamabad heard arguments on the long-awaited final appeal.  The three Judges rendered an oral decision acquitting Ayub Masih of blasphemy charges and ordering his immediate release.  In essence, the Supreme Court held that the arrest, conviction, and sentencing of Ayub Masih violated due process, very much following the reasoning of the United Nations. Moreover, this decision set a very positive precedent for all other blasphemy victims in Pakistani jails.

Given the high-profile nature of the case, and the past acts of violence perpetrated against Ayub, there was a serious danger to Ayub the moment he was released from prison.  Freedom Now worked closely with other groups and the U.S. State Department to arrange Ayub's quick exit from Pakistan.  He arrived in the United States on September 4, 2002.  After successfully claiming political asylum on the basis of his well-founded fear of religious persecution should he return to Pakistan, Ayub is now taking English lessons and is working two jobs.  He plans to become a Christian Minister.

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