Gujranwala: A blasphemy case was registered in the police station of District Gujaranwala against Sohail Masih son of Nazar Masih on August 5, 2020. Sohail Masih was caught by the people of the village and was beaten but due to the in-time interference of Police he managed to stay alive and now sent to District Jail Gujranwala. A local volunteer informed The Voice team about this incidence when there was a Mob attack of about 3,000 people surrounding the house of the victim, while his family inside. They ought to burn down the house along with the family of the victim as he was a blasphemer and therefore he rightly deserved to die along with his family that included his parents, wife and two young daughters 5 and 3 years of age.

The Voice’s Fact Finding:

The Voice team reached the village and tried to talk to the local people but everyone was either furious of scared to talk to us. It is a village of about 10,000 people and only 40 Christian families are living there, the rest are all Muslims, so it is obvious if Christians are forced to run for their lives from the village to escape from the rage of Muslims upon unconfirmed blasphemy. The Voice team met a Christian family living about 10 kms away from the home of the victim. Pastor Tariq and his family are the family friends and relatives of Sohail’s family so they were able to share some details, He said, Sohail is a laborer and works on a small shop as a salesman, while his father is a laborer and rides donkey cart to earn his living. Sohail also serves the church as a church Elder on Sundays. Tariq Said, a few days ago Sohail got a post against the sacrifices that Muslims make on the Eid and that was saved in his phone. Sohail is educated with minimal education and he can’t write or he doesn’t know how to operate, share the smart phone. He was busy on his shop while someone maliciously shared the blasphemous picture from his account while he was busy handling customers.

The Voice team somehow located the family that escaped with the help of police to another city (name not mentioned for security reasons) and contacted them. The Voice team met the family at almost middle of the night. The family was very sacred and hopeless. Sohail’s wife Shunila Sohail couldn’t stop shivering and crying because of what she saw and suffered in past few hours. The Voice team ensured her about her safety and the safety of her children. And asked few questions about the incidence. She said, Sohail was a hard worker and never participated in any conflicts, dialogues or religious discussions. She said, although he received the post but he didn’t share it. Is it his crime to keep a post in his mobile?

Sohail’s father Nazar Masih and his brothers and sisters appealed to The Voice team to help them and save them from the hands of the Radicals who without knowing any facts are “willing and consistent to burn us alive”. They further requested to take up their case and help Sohail get justice because he’s the only hope for the family and his two young daughters.

what chances do you think have the Blasphemy Victims for their survival in this country? The human rights lawyers are threatened and attacked, the victim families are attacked and burned down, they see no chance of survival, they see no hope. Your prayers are our strength and show us light in the darkness, please keep praying for The Voice team, lawyers and the Victim families. No one is safe.