Christian Man Tortured for Crime of Befriending Muslim Woman

A Christian man in the Pakistan district of family of Islam followers who were angry that he had committed the offense of — befriending a Muslim woman.

The victim ultimately had to be airlifted to a hospital in Lahore for treatment.

Dawn has the story:

“The incident happened earlier this month and a police case has also been lodged against the father and brothers of the woman, who were reportedly against the friendship between the two and allegedly tortured 21-year-old Ansar Masih.

“According to the First Information Report (FIR) undersigned by Masih’s sister in Sheikhupura’s Saddar police station, Masih first established contact with the woman two years ago and their friendship grew with time.

“They often spoke on phone and Masih would also visit the woman neighbourhood to meet her, the FIR stated.

“When the woman’s family learned of the friendship, her father, Manzoor, and her brothers called Masih’s father asking him to tell his son to stay away from the woman, warning them of dire consequences if their instructions were not followed, the FIR added.

“On April 1, Ansar’s mother sent him to run an errand in the woman’s neighbourhood where Ansar was allegedly kidnapped by the accused and his two sons, the report stated, adding the three unclothed him, beat him and burned him using hot iron rods.

“The FIR further states that the accused then brought Ansar to his house and told his family that he had been in a traffic accident.

“Ansar’s family then rushed him to Sheikhupura’s District Headquarters Hospital where, after gaining consciousness, he narrated the incident.

“Subsequently, on April 5, his sister lodged the FIR following which the police took the accused into custody.”