On 29th January 2025, Nabeel Masih gave what would unknowingly become his final recorded interview. The conversation was conducted by US-based blogger Daniel Richardson for Lament of Hope, and it captured a rare moment when Nabeel was still in good health.
Nabeel’s story is one of extraordinary injustice. In 2016, at just 15 years old—though some early reports mistakenly recorded him as 16—he became the youngest person ever convicted under Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws.
His “crime” was not something he created or even understood. As an illiterate teenager, Nabeel was tagged in a Facebook post that contained an image considered disrespectful to the Kaaba, the sacred building in Mecca which Muslims believe marks the place where Ishmael was to be sacrificed by Abraham. Nabeel foolishly allowed the tagged image to remain visible on his Facebook page, but he did not create or share it himself. He later confessed to allowing it to be visible, but vehemently denied creating the post or even knowing what the image depicted at the time.
For this, he was arrested, convicted, and forced to spend his formative years—nearly his entire youth—behind bars, much of it in solitary confinement. The isolation and lack of movement caused him to develop lipomas, fatty growths that became a permanent part of his body.
The Interview
In the video, you can hear the fear in Nabeel’s voice and see the unease in his expression. The translator sometimes struggled to convey the nuances of his answers, but his emotions come through clearly. He speaks as someone bewildered by allegations he could not fully comprehend when they were made, yet burdened by their consequences for the rest of his life.
Despite the injustice he endured, there is still a fragile hope in his words—a yearning for freedom and a chance to clear his name.
The Months After the Interview
Following the interview, Nabeel tried to live as normal a life as possible. But in March 2025, he contacted the BACA team, reporting severe pain from his lipomas. We quickly arranged surgery at Farooq Hospital Lahore, successfully carried out on 9th April 2025.
By June 2025, his health had declined again. BACA took him to Hamid Latif Hospital Lahore, where tests revealed he had Hepatitis E. He was prescribed medication and began to recover, even attending a court hearing on 12th July 2025—one that could have marked the beginning of his acquittal.
On 19th July, tragedy struck when his father, Amanat Masih, called BACA in distress: Nabeel was unconscious, his condition critical. We rushed him to The Indus Hospital, then transferred him to Sheikh Zaid Hospital Lahore.
On 20th July, he was admitted to the ICU. After six days, he rallied—walking, talking, and eating again. For a brief time, hope returned.
But on 28th July, his abdomen began to swell due to ascites, signalling acute liver failure. Despite treatment with Albumin 20%, his condition worsened. He was placed back in ICU, put on a ventilator, and at 4:02 am on 31st July 2025, Nabeel passed away.
A more detailed timeline can be read in our previous post (here)
Nabeel Masih’s death robs the world of a young man who should never have been imprisoned in the first place. The British Asian Christian Association firmly believes that had the court reached its verdict, he would have been acquitted.
His case is a chilling reminder of the devastating impact of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, particularly on the young and vulnerable. Nabeel’s voice—captured in this interview—should be heard by the world, not only as a record of his story but as a call for justice and reform.
Although Nabeel is no longer with us, the fight for his exoneration continues. Our solicitor, Naseeb Anjum, who has already been paid to take this case to conclusion, has committed himself to obtaining a posthumous acquittal for Nabeel Masih. We owe it to his memory—and to all victims of wrongful blasphemy convictions—to see his name cleared.
🎥 Watch Nabeel’s Final Interview with Daniel Richardson (29th January 2025):
Fact Box: Nabeel Masih
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Full Name: Nabeel Masih
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Date of Birth: 2001
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Age at Arrest: 15 years old (youngest ever convicted under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws)
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Date of Arrest: 18 September 2016
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Allegation: Facebook image considered disrespectful to the Kaaba, which he did not create but was tagged in
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Years Imprisoned: Nearly 8 years, mostly in solitary confinement
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Health Complications: Lipomas caused by prolonged immobility; later Hepatitis E; acute liver failure in July 2025
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Date of Death: 31 July 2025, aged 24
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Belief of BACA: He would have been acquitted if the court had reached a verdict
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Ongoing Legal Effort: Solicitor Naseeb Anjum pursuing posthumous acquittal
