London: (By Juliet Chowdhry and Hannah Chowdhry) An enraged mob set on fire the residence and shoe factory belonging to a Christian man allegedly accused of burning the Quran. The police have evacuated Christian residences in the area to avoid further damage to property and have registered an FIR against the Christian man under sections of the blasphemy law and terrorism law.

The British Asian Christian Association has offered legal support to help Nazir Masih fight the false blasphemy charges and secure an early release from prison.

Hundreds of families fled their homes, and though some properties were vandalized, the majority remained secure due to the protection provided by a large number of police and army officers.

Around 9:00 am on 25th May, a mob of hundreds of Muslim men and women in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha, surrounded the house of Nazir Masih, brutally beat him, and set fire to his residence and shoe factory. The enraged mob raised Islamic slogans and vowed to burn Nazir Masih alive for desecrating the Quran after local property agent Muhammad Jahangir allegedly accused Nazir Masih of tearing pages of the Quran and burning them at Katcha Bazar in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha.

Around 8:00 am, the police force from Urban Area Police Station, Sargodha, arrived at the scene, where the enraged mob, armed with clubs, sticks, and iron rods, had surrounded Nazir Masih’s residence. The police officials tried to control the situation, but negotiations with the enraged mob failed. To control the worsening situation, the police had to call for more force from neighboring police stations. To restore law and order, the police also sought help from the Peace Committee Sargodha to intervene, but negotiations failed again, and the violent mob persisted in wanting to burn Nazir Masih for the alleged crime. Meanwhile, the mob raised Islamic slogans and burned the shoe factory owned by Nazir Masih after looting it.

Although a large police force was present at the scene, the enraged mob was out of control. The men from the mob attempted to enter Nazir Masih’s residence through the roof and broke the electricity meter and the air conditioner outer unit attached to the walls of the house. The enraged mob set the house of Nazir Masih on fire using petrol.

The police then used gas shells to disperse the mob surrounding Nazir Masih’s residence and to make a way to rescue Nazir and his family. While rescuing Nazir Masih, the mob snatched him from police protection and beat him with kicks, sticks, and clubs, then threw bricks at him, causing severe injuries to his head, chest, shoulders, and arms.

The police somehow succeeded in rescuing Nazir Masih again and took him to a 1122 ambulance. The mob also threw stones at the ambulance, breaking its windows. Nazir Masih was taken to DHQ [District Headquarters Hospital] Sargodha, where he remained under treatment for some time. According to recent reports, Nazir Masih has been transferred to Military Hospital Rawalpindi, where he is still receiving treatment.

The police immediately evacuated the Christian community in Mujahid Colony and deployed a police force outside the churches in Sargodha to avoid any further attacks from the enraged community.  Hundreds of Christians families have taken up residence with relatives and friends some distance away from the area. Fear of further reprisals escalated after large swathes of rioters began shouting “Labaik Labaik Ya Rasool Allah” in support of the radical group Tehreek-e-Labbaik.

The police have registered First Information Report [FIR vide No. 426/24] under sections 186, 324, 353, 436, 440, 148, 149, and the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 against 40 persons, including Muhammad Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Kashif, Shoukat Ali, and others, along with 415 unknown persons.

A wave of fear and anguish has gripped the Christian community of Pakistan after learning that the police have also registered an FIR [First Information Report vide No. 425/24] against Nazir Masih under sections 295-A, 295-B, and sections from the Anti-Terrorism Act 2017. After his hospital treatment is completed, Nazir Masih will be transferred directly to prison and will begin the lengthy and expensive legal process that follows a charge of blasphemy.

It is an established fact that in the majority of cases, the draconian Blasphemy Law of Pakistan has been used to settle personal grudges against minorities. The Christian community in Pakistan has declared 25th May a Black Day for the Christians of Pakistan.

Though threats to burn down Christian homes did not materialize due to heavy policing, hundreds of families evacuated their homes as soon as they heard news of the riots. Christians living near Nazir Masih were initially instructed by local police officers to find temporary accommodation. The fact that Christians live in such fear in Pakistan is a damning indictment of the rule of law and the safety of minorities in the country.

Many Christian families have started to return to their homes, encouraged by the tight security arrangements in the area and the enforcement of section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which prohibits gatherings in groups.

Nazir Masih has been offered a solicitor by the British Asian Christian Association, with initial costs amounting to £1,500. We ask anyone moved to help him to donate [here]. The family has been moved to a secret location by police for their protection.

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the British Asian Christian Association, stated:

“It is believed that the police have registered blasphemy charges against Nazir Masih to placate local Muslims and quell existing tensions, hoping to prevent further attacks.

“These charges have been laid against Mr. Nazir despite video evidence showing local mobs arguing about whether it was his son or he who committed the blasphemy.

“Moreover, no actual physical, electronic, or other type of evidence exists linking either Nazir Masih or his son to any crime.

“Nazir Masih has now seen his home and business destroyed, suffered a brutal beating, and faces the ignominy of being charged for a crime he never committed. He will likely spend a lengthy time in jail proving his innocence due to draconian blasphemy laws that have no place in a nation that claims to be democratic and has ratified the UN Convention on Human Rights.

“Pakistan’s human rights record has reached a new low, yet they remain active members of the UN. Countries like Britain continue to channel millions of pounds in aid to Pakistan, which inevitably worsens the divide between the Muslim majority and non-Muslims.

“The blasphemy laws of Pakistan need to be abrogated, and international agencies and governments need to openly condemn this failed state.”