Chinese man charged with blasphemy released from Pakistan jail
- Tian was granted bail by a judge after he filed a surety bond of US$700
- He was accused of blasphemy earlier this month after the Chinese national criticised two drivers working on a dam project for taking too much time to pray during duty period
Atif Khan Jadoon, the lawyer for the man who has been only identified as Mr. Tian said the Chinese national was granted bail by a judge in the northwestern city of Abbottabad on Thursday.
Tian was released after he filed a surety bond of 200,000 rupees (US$700), Jadoon said.
‘Still angry’: Chinese man put in top-security jail amid Pakistan blasphemy row
Tian was part of a group of Chinese working on the Dasu Dam, the biggest hydropower project in Pakistan. He was accused of blasphemy on April 15 after he criticised two drivers working on the project for taking too much time to pray during work hours.
Authorities say Tian was briefly hospitalised on April 17 as he was not feeling well.
Tian pleaded not guilty during his earlier appearance before the court. He also insists that he did not insult Islam or the Prophet Muhammad, according to his lawyer and local police officials who questioned him.
Beijing has said that the Chinese embassy in Islamabad was looking into the matter.
Chinese engineer arrested in Pakistan for ‘insulting Allah’ in Ramadan row
According to police, they arrested Tian to save him from a potential attack by angry residents. The arrest of Muslims and non-Muslims on charges of blasphemy are common in Pakistan, but foreigners are rarely among those detained.
In 2021, a mob lynched a Sri Lankan man at a sports equipment factory in the eastern Punjab province. It later burned his body in public over allegations he desecrated posters bearing the name of the Prophet Muhammad.
