01/10/2020 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – On January 5, a Christian brick kiln worker named Ansar Masih was brutally beaten by his Muslim employer after he took leave to attend a prayer service over the holidays. The incident took place in Bonawala village, located in the Sheikhupura District of Punjab, Pakistan.
Masih told International Christian Concern (ICC) that he took leave on Christmas Day to attend religious services but worked the following Sunday to compensate. Masih reports that his factory manager was annoyed with him and abused him for taking time off.
“When I argued with him, he called four other staffers to teach me a lesson for going to church and arguing with him,” Masih told ICC. “They abused Christians for their religious practices and said derogatory words when they came to know that I was busy praying at the church.”
Masih sustained multiple injuries as a result of the assault. He was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Sheikhupura for medical treatment.
Police officials and the men that assaulted Masih are now putting pressure on his family to settle the matter out of court. Masih has submitted an application to police regarding the incident, but not action has been taken by officers against Masih’s assailants.
