Lahore: Samuel Arif, a 26-year-old Christian man from Lahore, accused of blasphemy and harassment.

Before his arrest, Samuel was reportedly beaten unconscious by security guards and a mob before police took him into custody.

His family has since fled their home in fear, while his mother remains deeply worried about his safety and deteriorating health.

BACA is supporting the family with financial assistance and standing alongside them as they seek justice and hope for Samuel’s future.

“When a family is forced to flee their home, children are kept from school, and a mother lies awake at night wondering whether her son is safe, we cannot look away. Samuel’s family needs more than our sympathy—they need justice, protection and the assurance that they are not forgotten. We will continue to stand with them and pray that Samuel is treated with dignity and receives the medical care he urgently needs.”

— Juliet Chowdhry, BACA

Arrest Following Allegations of Blasphemy

On 29th August 2026, 26-year-old Christian man Samuel Arif was arrested by police in Lahore after allegedly being accused of blasphemy.

The arrest came one day after allegations were made against him concerning two young girls and alleged derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. Samuel’s family says the accusation has devastated their lives, leaving them frightened, financially vulnerable and uncertain about what the future holds.

Samuel’s mother, Mukhtaran Bibi, 57, continues to maintain that her son is innocent and is praying for his safe return.

The events began on 28th August, when, according to the First Information Report (FIR), Muhammad Umair Alam Khan alleged that Samuel had stopped his two daughters in the street and made statements concerning the Prophet Muhammad appearing to him in a dream and instructing him to marry the girls.

The FIR also contains further allegations concerning the marriage of Prophet Muhammad and Ayesha and alleged derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

 

These allegations remain allegations and are subject to the legal process.

A Mother Waiting for Her Son

On the morning of 29th August, Samuel went to the gym but did not return home.

His mother became increasingly worried.

“My son did not return home after gym on 29th August and I was worried about him being late.”

At around 11:00 am, a police officer from Muslim Town Police Station contacted the family and informed them that Samuel had been arrested.

Initially, Mukhtaran Bibi thought her son might have been detained for a relatively minor matter.

“Initially, I thought he could have been arrested for driving his motorcycle without a helmet.”

Despite her fragile health, Mukhtaran went to the police station with her elder son, Yasir Arif, 40. It was there that she learned that Samuel had allegedly been accused of harassing two young girls and committing blasphemy.

“I pleaded to the police that my son could not commit this crime but I was not heard.”

Mukhtaran told BACA that a police officer informed her that Samuel had committed blasphemy and said there was nothing he could do to help her.

She said that she knew the two girls involved had previously lived in the same community and maintained that Samuel’s brief interaction with them amounted to nothing more than a simple greeting.

Mukhtaran believes that the family’s Christian faith has contributed to the hostility towards them and to what she describes as false allegations against her son. She also questioned the substance of the accusations, saying that Samuel does not have sufficient knowledge of the Quran or Islamic teachings to know the details about Muhammad’s life that he is alleged to have referred to.

Allegations of a Brutal Beating

The Muslim Town Police registered FIR No. 806/26 against Samuel under Sections 295-C and 298-A of Pakistan’s Penal Code on 29th August 2026.

According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that Samuel had stopped his two daughters on 28th August and made the statements described above. The FIR states that the girls returned home and told their father, who then attempted to identify Samuel.

According to the account contained in the FIR, CCTV footage from security cameras at Officer Colony was used to identify Samuel.

The family’s account provides additional details about what allegedly happened before Samuel was taken into police custody. According to the family, after hearing what his daughters had reportedly told him, the complainant became angry and informed friends and neighbors. A group then allegedly went to a gym in the Staff Colony, where Samuel was exercising with friends, and confronted him.

The family alleges that the confrontation became violent and that Samuel was severely beaten, with his attackers allegedly attempting to kill him at the scene. According to the FIR account, Samuel was subsequently detained by security guards at the entrance to the colony, where he was reportedly beaten by guards and members of a crowd and allegedly lost consciousness.

As the situation escalated, someone reportedly called 15, the Police Emergency Helpline. Police officers arrived at the scene, intervened, and brought the situation under control before Samuel was taken into police custody.

According to his family, Samuel remains in police custody. His family has expressed serious concern for his safety following the alleged assault.

For his family, however, the ordeal did not end with his arrest.

A Family Forced to Flee

Samuel lived in Saint Mary’s Colony, Gulberg, Lahore, with his mother, his elder brother Yasir, Yasir’s wife Nadia Bibi, 36, and their three children: Eliana Geet, 11, Yohana Arif, 9, and Suleman Dawood, 6.

Samuel also has an unmarried sister, Fozia Arif.

The family had previously lived in servant quarters at Punjab University because of their late father Arif Masih’s employment. After Arif Masih retired in 2019, the family moved to Saint Mary’s Colony.

Following the allegations and Samuel’s arrest, the family’s sense of security was shattered.

They were forced to leave their home and move to a safer location because of fears for their safety.

Nadia Bibi told BACA:

“We are living under fear. My husband cannot go to work and my children cannot go to school.”

The children are also struggling to understand why their uncle is no longer at home.

“They loved their uncle so much and ask me when would he come to home.”

She added:

“They are younger and I cannot explain them.”

For a family already facing financial difficulties, being unable to work and send the children to school has placed an enormous additional burden on them.

“When Night Falls, an Unknown Fear Presses Her Heart”

For Mukhtaran Bibi, the pain is deeply personal.

Her son is in jail. Her family has fled their home. Her grandchildren cannot attend school. And she does not know whether Samuel is receiving the medical care he needs.

Speaking to BACA through tears, she described the fear that comes when night falls and her son is not home.

“When night falls, an unknown fear presses her heart and she cries for her son who is not home.”

Her greatest concern is what is happening to Samuel while he remains in detention.

“I am not sure what is happening with him in the jail.”

Yet, even in the midst of such uncertainty, Mukhtaran continues to hold onto her faith.

“I have trust in my Lord for He is above all and can save my son.”

And her plea remains simple:

“All I want is justice for my son. I believe he is innocent.”

Concern for Samuel’s Health

Samuel’s family is also deeply concerned about his physical health.

He has recently undergone surgery for the removal of piles and is expected to undergo another surgery in October 2026.

Mukhtaran told BACA that Samuel’s surgical wounds had not yet recovered and that he continues to require medication.

His family does not know whether he is receiving the medicines and medical attention he needs while in jail.

“I am not sure what is happening with him in the jail.”

For a mother already struggling with fear over her son’s safety, uncertainty about his health has added another layer of distress.

BACA Visits the Family

On 10th September 2026, a BACA team visited Samuel’s family after they had fled their home and moved to a safer location.

BACA provided the family with urgently needed financial assistance to help them cope during this extremely difficult period. Samuel’s mother, Mukhtaran Bibi, expressed her gratitude for the visit and the support they received.

The family has also secured legal assistance through another charity. However, their wider financial needs remain significant.

With Samuel a breadwinner in jail and the family displaced from their home, they are struggling to meet basic living expenses while coping with the additional pressures created by their circumstances. Concerns for their safety have also forced them to restrict their movements and normal daily activities.

BACA has therefore committed to providing Samuel’s family with £100 per month for one year, helping them meet the cost of groceries and other essential household needs while they navigate the months ahead.