Latest Campaign Updates - Save Raza’s Family

Pakistani Family In Grave Danger After Being Falsely Accused of Violating Blasphemy Law; Islamic Extremists Call For Beheadings

For immediate release: January 17, 2024

One Free World International Calling Upon Canadian Government To Grant The Family Refugee Status; Petition Urging Immediate Action Garners More Than 3,000 Signatures 

TORONTO – A family from Pakistan is in grave danger after being falsely accused of blasphemy by Islamic extremists who are publicly calling for their beheadings for the “crime” of maintaining a relationship with a member of their immediate family who converted to Christianity. 

Following Raza Muhammad’s conversion from Islam to Christianity in 2009, he and his family have experienced unimaginable pain, suffering, and even death – all under the guise of enforcing Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy law. 

“My family is being hunted by Islamic extremists who have vowed to behead us all simply because I became a Christian,” said Raza Muhammad. “We have been stabbed, shot, beaten, and in the case of my sister, murdered. I am desperately asking for help and asylum for my family before we all suffer the same fate as my late-sister.” 

Blasphemy is considered the highest crime in Muslim-majority Pakistan — worse than murder. The Muhammad family vehemently denies these false, but deadly accusations.

They are currently in-hiding where their lives continue to hang in the balance. Their location is not being disclosed out of concern for their safety.

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, a far-right Islamic extremist political party, issued the fatwa (a formal ruling or interpretation on a point of Islamic law), calling on its supporters to attack the Muhammad family and “separate head from body”. This is the same political party that led protests against the high profile case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death by hanging before international pressure led to her receiving asylum in Canada. 

To date, four fatwas have been issued against Raza and his family from various extremist organizations since 2010. Fatwas do not expire. The family has become the regular subjects of hostile media coverage from Islamist aligned media in Pakistan, emboldening vigilantes and escalating the threats of additional violence the family faces.

One Free World International (OFWI), a Toronto-based human rights organization that fights for the rights of persecuted minorities, has launched a public campaign pleading for the Canadian government to bring the Muhammad family to safety in Canada.

“This week, OFWI sent an open letter to the Honourable Marc Miller, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, highlighting the grave nature of the Muhammad family’s situation and urging him to take immediate action to bring the family to safety,” said Mr. Majed El Shafie, President and Founder of OFWI. 

“Our open letter contains a petition, which has already garnered more than 3,000 signatures, calling upon Minister Miller to exercise his ministerial powers and grant the Muhammad family asylum in Canada.”

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have enabled and encouraged legal discrimination and persecution of minorities under the guise of defending Islam for decades. OFWI’s team on the ground in Pakistan have regularly reported witnessing instances of the country’s blasphemy law being misused against Pakistan’s religious and ethnic minority groups. 

“For nearly two decades, OFWI has helped bring persecuted people to Canada, from Yazidis fleeing ISIS’s genocide to Ukrainians escaping Russia’s murderous invasion,” said Mr. El Shafie. “I know from firsthand experience that time is of the essence, and for the Muhammad family, it’s a matter of life and death. We have to act now.”

To learn more about the Muhammad family’s plight, visit: https://ofwi.org/pakistan-blasphemy-raza-needs-help

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Majed El Shafie and Raza Muhammad are available for media interviews by phone or video connection.

About One Free World International (OFWI): For nearly 20 years, OFWI has been a voice for the voiceless. Based in Toronto, Canada, OFWI promotes and protects the rights of religious minorities around the world. Through OFWI’s work on the frontlines of today’s human rights struggles, they bring those voices to decision makers who have the power to enact even greater change to see human rights upheld.

Majed El Shafie WriteS Minister of immigration

January 16, 2024

Thank you! Over 3,000 people have already signed the petition and our campaign is growing everyday!

This week Majed El Shafie wrote the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, the Hon. Marc Miller with all of your support to formally request urgent action to save the Muhammad family’s lives.

You can read Majed’s letter to the Minister by clicking here.

Raza Muhammad and his family are being hunted by Islamic extremists in Pakistan for the “crime” of having faith in Jesus.

Where did it all begin?

After Raza converted from Islam to Christianity in 2009, he and his family have experienced unimaginable pain, suffering, and even death – all under the guise of enforcing Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy law.

While Raza did everything he could to try to hide his Christian faith out of fear of persecution, Pakistani authorities and Islamic extremists nonetheless discovered that he had been attending an underground church and punished him for leaving Islam.

A barbaric mob broke both of his arms and legs, several ribs, and nearly killed him. Adding to the cruelty, extremists forced his ex-wife to marry his older brother.

forced to flee

Raza had an impossible choice to make: Flee his own country to live freely and in safety, leaving behind his whole family (including his baby boy), or, stay in Pakistan living a secret life full of fear and constant threat to his own life, and also putting his own family in danger.

Knowing that he would almost certainly be murdered if he chose to stay, Raza found refuge in Germany and created a new life for himself, centered around missionary work and serving as the Pastor of a local church.

Unfortunately, even though he was living in a different continent, Raza was still being hunted by Islamic extremist agents in Germany. In 2014, he was hospitalized following a violent knife attack that left him in life-threatening condition. His sense of safety and security in his newfound home was utterly shattered.

family targeted by EXTREMISTS

Unfortunately, Raza’s family continued to be the target of Islamic extremists.

In 2020, his sister also converted to Christianity. In a matter of months following her conversion, she was poisoned and her life abruptly was cut short.

Earlier this year, Raza’s brothers, Ajmal and Qamar, were attacked by a savage mob, and Raza’s father was brutally beaten by extremists.

He is still suffering memory loss to this day.

Months later, Qamar was shot and Ajmal was stabbed. They nearly died in hospital.

When the violence and attempted murders were reported to police, they refused to help.

Islamic extremist groups have since beguan pressuring Pakistani authorities to issue an arrest warrant for Raza and his family.

charged with blasphemy

Police subsequently decided to charge Raza with blasphemy under sections “295(A), 295(B), 295(C) and 298(A)”, which criminalizes those who insult or disrespect Prophet Muhammad, the Holy Quran, and Islam. These accusations are categorically false. 

Blasphemy is considered the highest crime in Pakistan — worse than murder.

SENTENCED to death by islamic extremists

Raza and his family have had four fatwas issued against them since 2010, with the latest being issued in 2023. A fatwa, in Islam, is a formal ruling or interpretation on a point of Islamic law given by a qualified legal scholar (known as a mufti). They do not expire.