Image above is of Naveed Aziz with Dr.Nazeer Gill a local Pastor who is praying for peace to resume in the area.
A Christian boy of only 16 is the latest victim of the draconian blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Nabeel Masih a resident of Chak 66, Bhai Pheru, District
Kasur in Punjab Province, has been accused of posting blasphemous images on his Facebook profile (social media).
Image of Nabeel
A Christian boy of only 16 is the latest victim of the draconian blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Nabeel Masih a resident of Chak 66, Bhai Pheru, District
Kasur in Punjab Province, has been accused of posting blasphemous images on his Facebook profile (social media).
A Muslim complainant named Akhter Ali reported that an image of the Kaaba in Mecca was included in a derogatory post against Islam on his profile.
The Kaaba is the most sacred place on earth in the Muslim faith and said to be built by Ismael and his father Abraham.
Naveed Aziz, British Pakistani Christian Association investigator, said:
“Local people have told me that apparently the image of the Islamic Kaaba was shown on Nabeel’s facebook profile, showing the image of a pig on top. This infuriated local Muslims who then reported the crime to local police.”
As of yet it is still not known whether Nabeel placed the image there, was tagged into the picture by another user, or whether the allegation was true
at all. However, Mr Ali maintains that Nabeel had blasphemed by posting the picture of Khana-e-Kaaba in a derogatory manner and has therefore
hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. Police have told BPCA’s Naveed Aziz that they have taken down the offensive image from the facebook page
of Nabeel. This removes the possibility of knowing whether Nabeel was tagged into the image or not. Local Police have stated it was removed
to prevent further public offence and to prevent further incitement of hatred.
Following the accusation Nabeel Masih was arrested and is currently being held at his local police station in Kasur. He has been arrested under section
295 and 295/A of the Pakistan Penal Code which carries a death sentence.
Nabeel’s family have fled their village and a BPCA officer Naveed Aziz is already there to see what help we can offer in this situation. Already
many other Christians have also fled from the area and there have been threats made of an attack on the local Christian community as community tension
rises over the incident.
This is not the first time that an allegation of a blasphemous social medai message has resulted in charges being laid against a Christian in Pakistan.
The precedent had already been set in the case of Nadeem James who set of a Nationwide manhunt when he was accused of writing a blasphemous poem
on Whats app (click here).
On that occasion the whole community had to flee the area a common phenomenon where the ire of Muslims can be triggered by the slightest of rumours
regarding the pariah Christians in their community.
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said:
“This incident again underlines the worthlessness of Christians in Pakistan. A sixteen year old boy who has been accused of a blasphemy, has been placed in a prison without any proper investigation. Social media can be a force for good or for bad, and we are all too aware of trolling in the west. However few understand the blasphemy entrapment Christians can face in Pakistan and often on flimsiest evidence, for which I can see social media becoming an ever more prolific weapon. In the case of Nadeem James on 4th July 2016, the blasphemous poem was said to have been planted on his whats’ app. It would not surprise me if Nabeel was tagged into the image of the blasphemous image by haters.”
He added:
“Pakistani Christians try to be active parts of society and will have friends from the local Muslim community. It is hard to be part of the local community when you exclude the largest diversity, however perhaps in future Christians in Pakistan should observe a more stand-offish approach when adding Muslim’s to their social media. Clearly, even long term friends will bay for your blood if they feel that you have slighted their faith. perhaps it would be wise to prevent such hatred by more aloofness in future.”
Please sign our petition calling for abrogation of the blasphemy laws of Pakistan (click here)
We have initiated a fund to help the family of Nabeel Masih find safety and for them to challenge his blasphemy charges. If you would like to contribute please (click here)
The empty home of Nabeel – his family have fled the area.
Image of church that Nabeel attended.