Pakistan Christian Workers “Tortured” Over Crucifix

May 14, 2010 04:30


Three Christian workers were detained and “tortured” by police and dismissed from their jobs in Pakistan’s Punjab province for wearing a crucifix and church visits on Sundays

By BosNewsLife Asia Service reporting from Pakistan

SIALKOT, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)– Three Christian workers were detained and “tortured” by police and dismissed from their jobs in Pakistan’s Punjab province for wearing a crucifix and church visits on Sundays, according to statements from the men, their priest and family members Wednesday, May 12. Local police said the Christians were taken into custody because of suspected “alcohol” related offenses.

Atif Masih, Kamran Masih and Naveed Gill, who worked at a local garments factory in the Paka Garah area of Sialkot city, were arrested May 4 on what they and relatives called “false” accusations of illegally selling alcoholic beverages. “We were arrested” by local police “and pressured to give a false statement that we sold alcohol,” the workers alleged.

They claimed the real reason for the three-day detention was their decision to each wear a crucifix — often used as a symbol of Christianity — and their church visits. “The factory owner said that nobody would be allowed to wear a cross and called all Christian workers to work on Sundays. He also threatened us with dire consequences after we asked for permission to visit church on Sunday,” added the workers, who joined the factory last year.

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