Family Asks Pakistan To Free Tortured Christian From Jail
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – The family of a young Christian man who has been jailed in Pakistan for nearly eight months and almost died of torture on alleged false charges of “blasphemy” against Islam appeal for his release.
In remarks shared with Worthy News, the wife and father of 22-year-old Basharat Masih, from the city of Faisalabad, said police took him on June 26, 2024.
“We live at 232 Faisalabad” in Pakistan’s Punjab province. “While traveling to northern Pakistan, my son was arrested by the police and cybercrime forces,” recalled his father, George Masih, in a recorded video message
“We are unable to afford travel or legal representation for his case or travel to Rawalpindi. [That is why] we request[ed] legal assistance to release my son from the jail.”
On Tuesday, the Emergency Committee to Save the Persecuted and Enslaved (ECSPE) confirmed to Worthy News that it agreed to provide legal assistance.
“The father and uncle of Basharat Masih, George, and Naveed contacted our team members in the Faisalabad district for legal help,” said Farrukh H. Saif, ECSPE’s co-founder and director.
“On 12th February 2024, our legal head filed the bail application for Basharat Masih’s release, as even after the 8th month, no witness or complaint appeared before the trial court, even after multiple notices were issued,” he told Worthy News.
PRAYERS URGED
He stressed that ESCPE, a Christian charity, requested Christians “to keep Basharat and our team of ECSPE in your prayers” amid concerns about his health.
“After he had been arrested, Basharat Masih was handed over to the FIA, which then produced him before the judicial Magistrate Sector 30 [court] for the police physical remand. The Magistrate allowed police 10 days of physical remand in which Basharat Masih was tortured…to admit his crimes.”, Saif said.
“While he was tortured brutally in the lock, Basharat fainted and became unconscious in fear of his death. Police immediately provided him with medical assistance, and when he became conscious, they instantly moved him to jail and submitted their report to the Session court,” Saif explained.
“His arrest was a surprise, as no one had filed a complaint or a [First Information Report] FIR against him” needed for police to launch a criminal investigation.
“The police claimed to have found blasphemous content on his cellphone. However, an even bigger shock came when the [Federal Investigation Agency] FIA Cyber Crime Division added his name to an already registered” criminal case against a suspect named Nafees Bin Abdul Aziz, Saif remembered.
“Eight others had already been arrested. Before arresting Basharat Masih, the authorities unlawfully included his name in the same case, even though he had no connection or friendship with them.”
Saif suggested he may have met the others against his will on a social media platform Facebook group. Recently, the Punjab government revealed the existence of a “Blasphemy Business Gang,” which operates such social media groups “to entrap young boys and girls,” he added.
BLACKMAIL ONGOING
Once targeted, victims are then blackmailed for alleged blasphemous words or expressions that could carry lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty in Pakistan, an Islamic nation.
So far, more than 450 people have been detained in Pakistan for allegedly having blasphemous content on their cell phones, according to ESCPE investigators.
That worries Basharat’s wife, Mehnaz.
“My husband has been arrested, and we are unable to travel to see him as he is being held far from our location,” she said, holding back tears.
“We are poor people. Help us, please, so he can come back home,” she added in the video message shared with Worthy News.
The country’s notorious blasphemy laws have often been misused to settle personal scores or to target minorities, including Christians, Worthy News established.
Pakistan ranks 8th on the annual World Watch List of 50 nations, where advocacy group Open Doors says Christians face the most persecution for their faith in Christ.
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