Christian man stripped, beaten and burnt for 'friendship' with Muslim woman
Premier has been told a 21-year-old Christian man was assaulted and burnt
with hot iron rods by the family of a Muslim woman he'd befriended in
Pakistan.
It's alleged the vicious attack was carried out by the woman's family -
who were angry that Ansar Masih hadn't heeded their warnings to stay
away.
The British Pakistani Christian Association is now urging the government
there to tighten the laws on religious violence.
The full release from the BPCA is below:
A 21-year-old Christian man was allegedly assaulted and burnt with hot
iron rods by the family of a Muslim woman for 'befriending' her in Sheikhupura
within Pakistan's Punjab province
Ansar Masih first established contact with Jameela Bibi two years ago and
their friendship grew over time and blossomed.
They often spoke over phone and Masih would also visit the woman's
neighbourhood to meet her.
When the woman's family learned of the friendship, her father, Manzoor,
and her brothers Mangu and Shahbaz called Masih's father asking him to tell his
son to stay away from Jameela. The family of Mr Masih were warned of dire
consequences that would be taken against the family, if their instructions were
not followed.
On April 1st 2017, Ansar's mother sent him to collect some money from a
friend in Jameela's neighbourhood. Whilst he was riding his motorcycle he was
stopped by Manzoor and his sons, who waved their hands at him to stop. When he
stopped they grabbed him and covered his head in a small sack and forcibly
kidnapped him taking him to their house.
Once he was taken to their home the three assailants unclothed Ansar,
beat him and burned him using hot iron rods until he was rendered
unconscious.
The men then allegedly brought Ansar who was still unconscious to his
house and told his family that he had met with an accident.
Ansar's family rushed him to Sheikhupura's District Headquarters Hospital
where after gaining consciousness, he awoke from his unconscious state and
described the true nature of the violence that had befell
him.
Ansar received severe burn wounds which could not be treated at
Sheikhupura District Headquarters Hospital. After an appeal for help BPCA
intervened and paid for his transport and medical costs for him to be treated at
Mayo Hospital, Lahore which had a special burns unit.
His sister Samina Bibi (30 years) lodged an FIR at Sheikhupura's Saddar
police station after which the police took Manzoor into custody, but are yet to
take any action against the two sons.
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