NEW DELHI: Accused of murder, 42 Christians in Lahore were guaranteed acquittal by a public prosecutor if they renounce their religion and convert to Islam. The people were charged with lynching two men after March 2015's suicide blasts that targeted Sunday Mass in two churches in Youhanabad. Many in Youhanabad's mostly Christian community believed the two men were involved in the planning of the bombings.
Rights activist Joseph Franci, who is legally assisting the accused, claimed that Deputy District Public Prosecutor Syed Anees Shah had made the acquittal offer to the accused. "He asks them if they embrace Islam, he can guarantee them their acquittal in this case," Franci said. One of the 42 people even spoke out saying he preferred being hanged over converting to another religion. Advocate Naseeb Anjum, counsel for some of the accused, said, "The government should get rid of such elements that bring bad name to the state by such acts."
Meanwhile, when Shah was contacted by local media, he initially denied it, but later when told he was on video presenting the offer, he said he may have "offered them a choice".
