A Pakistani Christian tortured to death for bathing in water from a well; family wants justice

A 22-year-old Christian was beaten to death in Pakistans Punjab province by men who accused him of contaminating water from a well owned by a Muslim farmer.

Sources told human rights organizations that Christian worker Saleem Masih from Kasur district of Punjab was chained, dragged and beaten with rods by a landowner and four other men around February 25.

Masih died of his injuries on February 28 at Lahore General Hospital, according to the United Kingdom. Legal aid, assistance and settlement center.

Masih's older brother saidUnion of Catholic Asia News that Masih was tortured for two hours for washing in a tube belonging to a Muslim landowner identified as Sher Doga.

We need to take a bath after unloading the ball from a cart. Even the cold is unimportant. The itchy ball stuck in our clothes disrupts our sleep, said Nadeem Masih.

They threatened him with dire consequences when he cleaned up after unloading a vehicle last week. They accused him of having profaned their water. He was already warned to make TikTok videos on farms owned by Muslim owners.

Masih was discovered lying on a Dogas cattle farm with serious injuries on February 25 in the village of Bhagiana, where many Christians work as farm laborers.

Nadeem Masih said local women informed him that they heard Masih moan in pain around 7 a.m.

He explained to the police that he had been shackled, beaten and shocked by four men, said Nadeem Masih. They rolled a thick rod of iron all over his body. It was like a sugar cane smashed from a juice machine.

Although Masih was transported to hospital for surgery, he died of organ failure.

According to UCANews, Doga was arrested but later released. The Lahore High Court accepted a bail request from the suspects who accused the Masih of theft.

CLAAS director Nasir Sayeed said in a press release that Doga had called the police himself. Sayeed has accused Doga of bribing the police since the police pressed the Masihs family to settle the matter.

According to Sayeed, Doga justified the crime by saying that Masih "committed a crime by dirtying" the water from the well.

The Masih family had to plead with the owner to release Saleem Masih so they could take him to the hospital for medical treatment, Sayeed reported.

Ghafoor Masih told CLAAS that he wanted justice for his son.

Those who killed my son should be punished for taking the law and killing him for just being a Christian, said Ghafoor Masih.

According to Sayeed, it will not be easy to get justice for Masih because the perpetrators are so influential.

Pakistani police are often biased towards Muslims and non-Muslims, said Sayeed.

Michelle Chaudhry, President of the Cecil Foundation and Iris Chaudhry, said in a declaration that the horrific act of violence is once again a grim reminder that intolerance in the name of religion in Pakistan has overtaken the rule of law.

Unfortunately, in Pakistan, when it comes to religious minorities, anyone is free to act as a prosecutor, judge and executor, Chaudhry explained. We cannot allow this to continue; impunity around violence against religious minorities in Pakistan must end.

Pakistan is classified fifth worst country in the world regarding Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. Christians have often been victims of societal persecution in the predominantly Muslim country.

In 2014, two Kasur Christians were burned alive in a brick oven by a Muslim crowd after being accused of desecrating a copy of the Qur'an.

It is unacceptable that Christians in Pakistan continue to face discrimination and hatred because of their religious identity, said Mervyn Thomas, a CSW leader, in a statement. declaration.

The government of Pakistan must take decisive action against the perpetrators of hatred and those who commit such crimes. We also urge the authorities to engage fully in the long-term work aimed at overcoming the harmful mentality towards religious minorities in society.

In a February 26 Tweeter, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan warned that "anyone in Pakistan targeting our non-Muslim citizens or their places of worship will be treated strictly."

"Our minorities are equal citizens of this country," wrote Khan.

According to UCA News, more than 1,000 Christians attended the funeral of Saleem Masih held in an evangelical church outside his home. According to the information gathered, Ejaz Alam, Minister for Punjabs on Human Rights and Minority Affairs, was present.

Masih's murder inspired social media hashtag#JusticeForSaleemMasih.