In October 2013, Pakistani Christian Adnan Prince was accused of blasphemy. While working in his brother’s place at the New Diamond Glass Shop in Lahore, he came across a book written by the leader of an Islamist organization in Pakistan, and he began to take notes therein. This act was witnessed by a colleague, who was Muslim; he accused Adnan of making blasphemous notes, taking his case to the police, who soon charged Adnan with blasphemy. 

“I found the book quite erroneous, giving incorrect information about Christianity. So I wrote comments with Biblical references in several places, but no abusive language was used.” - Adnan Prince

Adnan went into hiding for a month, but came out when he heard that several members of his family had been arrested. He turned himself in. That night, he claims, he was tortured near to his breaking point by the police. Soon, he was transferred to a prison and “confined in a small cell,” isolated from other prisoners owing to the danger the blasphemy accusation put him in.

“When I came to my senses [after one round of torture], I was told that a heavy machine would be rolled over my thighs, which would not only be painful but would render me permanently impotent. Then the deputy superintendent of police pushed the barrel of a pistol into my mouth and told me to confess that I had written abusive words in the book. He said he would count to three and that if I didn’t confess, he would pull the trigger.” - Adnan Prince

After more than three years of imprisonment, Adnan was finally granted bail and released, but to date, he has yet to stand trial, and his case is pending.