Another example of the “religion of peace”?

By BosNewsLife Asia Service reporting from Pakistan

RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)– A Christian man was fighting for his life in Pakistan’s Punjab province Saturday, March 20, after Muslim leaders backed by police burned him alive for refusing to convert to Islam, while his wife was raped by police officers, Christian and hospital sources familiar with the case told BosNewsLife.

Arshed Masih was burned Friday, March 19, in front of a police station in the city of Rawalpindi near Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, following apparent death threats from his Muslim employer Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, an influential businessman, and religious leaders, said the Rawalpindi Holy Family Hospital.

His wife, Martha Arshed, was allegedly raped by police officers. Their three children — ranging in age from 7 to 12–  were reportedly forced to witness the attacks against their parents.

“Both [Masih] and wife were rushed to the Holy Family Hospital and are under treatment,” the hospital said.

He was listed in serious condition with about 80 percent of his body burned.

POLICE INVESTIGATION

Local police officials said they were “aware” of the attacks carried out by Muslim leaders and apparently at least some officers and added that an investigation was underway. No arrests were reported yet late Saturday, March 19.

Sheikh Mohammad Sultan could not immediately be reached for comment and it was not clear whether he had been in contact with police Saturday, March 20.

Before tensions emerged about their Christian faith, Masih worked as a driver and his wife as a maid for the Muslim businessman since 2005, Christians said.

The couple apparently lived with their children in the servant quarters of Sultan’s estate in Rawalpindi, a key trade and tourist destination. In January, religious leaders and Sultan allegedly asked Arshed to convert to Islam with his whole family.  After he refused, the group reportedly threatened him with “dire consequences”.

DEATH THREAT

Arshed offered to quit his job, but the businessman allegedly said he would “kill” him if he were to leave.

He apparently also told Christian mediators that he would never allow the Christian family to live somewhere else.

This week tensions rose after Sultan reported a theft of 500,000 Pakistani Rupees (5,952$), according to a document seen by BosNewsLife.

The Christian family members were not named as suspects in the so-called ‘First Information Report’  from police.

Sources familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, told BosNewsLife that the businessman had offered the couple to drop the case if they convert to Islam or “else that both would not see their children again.”

However, “Arshed refused to convert and stood firm in his faith. Arshed`s wife was raped by the police and he was burned alive,” Friday, March 19, local Christians said, speaking on condition of anonimity.

The case comes at a time when church groups have complained about growing attacks against minority Christians by Muslim militants, often with the alleged support by local law enforcement officials and other authorities. (BosNewsLife Asia Service includes BosNewsLife correspondents often working in difficult circumstances. In some cases, including this report, their names are not mentioned due to security concerns. With editing by BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos).

UPDATE:

RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)– Arshed Masih, a Pakistani Christian who was burned by Muslim hardliners for refusing to convert to Islam, died early Tuesday, March 23, at the age of 38, his family told BosNewsLife. He had become a symbol of Christians facing persecution in Pakistan, suggested Life for All, a Pakistani advocacy group closely following the case.

Grieving relatives gathered at Rawalpindi Holy Family Hospital where Masih had been treated since Friday, March 19, when he was reportedly burned by at least a handful of Muslim religious leaders backed by police.

Masih was attacked in front of a police station in Rawalpindi, near Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, after he refused to convert to Islam, law enforcement and medical sources confirmed to BosNewsLife.

His Christian wife Martha Masih, 33, was believed to have been raped by possibly three police officers in the police station where the couple was held Friday, March 19, for questioning.

Their small children, ranging in age from 7 to 12, were allegedly forced to watch Friday’s attacks against their parents.

POLICE INVESTIGATION

Police Superintendent Moin Shah told BosNewsLife that an investigation into the violence was ongoing. In a statement to BosNewsLife, the government of Punjab province where the attack took place, and the local police leadership, also said they were “condoling the grieving family”.

Masih’s family told BosNewsLife they are demanding a post-mortem examination before Masih’s funeral, which was to be held early Wednesday, March 24 at  10 am local time.

Rawalpindi Holy Family Hospital did not immediately want to comment on the family’s request. Doctors earlier said they were not able to save Arshed Masih’s life, with over 80 percent of his body burned.

The family said they may postpone the funeral if no suspects are detained and no case is filed by law enforcement officials against police officers allegedly involved in the rape and burning cases– a process known as a ‘First Information Report’.

CHRISTIANS PROTEST

As news of his death emerged protests broke out. Several Christian advocacy groups, including Life for All, Pakistan Christian Congress, the Christian Progressive Movement and Protect Foundation Pakistan demonstrated Tuesday, March 23, in Rawalpindi against the Punjab police.

It came a day after authorities asked Christian activists to cancel demonstrations, citing “terrorism threats.”

The advocacy groups expressed concerns about the future of widow Martha Masih and her three children and demanded “the arrest of the suspects and compensation” for the family.

The family was apparently expelled from the servant headquarters of their employer, influential businessman Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, who allegedly instigated the attacks.

BUSINESSMAN UPSET

Sultan got upset because Arshed Masih told him that he and his wife wanted to remain Christians, despite pressure from their employer and local religious leaders, Christians said. Since 2005, he reportedly worked as driver and his wife as a domestic servant for Sultan.

Last week tensions increased after Sultan reported a theft of 500,000 Pakistani Rupees (almost 6,000$), according to a document seen by BosNewsLife.

The Christian family members were not named as suspects in the so-called ‘First Information Report’ from police.

Sultan offered the couple to drop the case if they convert to Islam or “else that both would not see their children again,” according to sources familiar with the situation.

However, “Arshed refused to convert and stood firm in his faith. Arshed’s wife was raped by the police and he was burned alive,” Friday, March 19, local Christians said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security fears.

CHILDREN HOMELESS

The businessman has not yet commented on the case. Witnesses said they had seen the business man near Friday’s burning incident, but it remained unclear whether he directly participated in the attack.

A BosNewsLife reporter saw the children sleeping in the hospital, saying they are homeless. Their mother appeared in shock and was not able to speak with reporters Tuesday, March 23.

The latest incident of anti-Christian violence follow several reports of attacks against minority Christians by Islamic militants, including by fighters linked to the Al-Qaida and Taliban groups.

Christians comprise less than five percent of the country’s mainly Muslim population of 175 million people, according to estimates by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). BosNewsLife Asia Service includes BosNewsLife correspondents often working in difficult circumstances. In some cases, including this report, their names are not mentioned due to security concerns. With editing by BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos).

ALSO READ:

Pakistan’s Punjab Bans Christian Protests Citing “Terrorism Threats”

Help Make A Difference By Sharing These Articles On Facebook, Twitter And Elsewhere:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•