A Christian father of five in Pakistan attacked multiple times by the same group of men over an eighteen-month period was sent to prison in May.
Farooq Masih was assaulted at knifepoint by three local Muslim men in January 2023. Masih filed a complaint with police after the incident identifying two of the attackers by name, but the perpetrators were quickly released.
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“The police claimed the men had ‘escaped,’ so they considered the case closed,” said Masih. “The assailants kept harassing and targeting me and my family, but I placed my trust in Jesus, the police, and the court for justice and safety.”
The same trio of individuals struck again later that year during the religious riots in Jaranwala.
“On August 16 during the violence, a mob, including the same individuals accused, attacked our home,” said Masih. “They mobilized local radicals and launched a targeted assault on our family home where my wife and five children were present.”
The attackers scaled Masih’s roof and desecrated the cross mounted on top, accused the family of being blasphemers and infidels, and pelted the home with bricks and stones, causing significant damage.
“These riots provided the religious radicals and culprits with the opportunity to unleash religious hatred and settle personal scores, including the attackers with me and my family.”
The aggression was caught on video and distinctly showed Masih’s attackers. Despite facing bias from the local community and a concerted effort to suppress the video, the footage served as crucial evidence for law enforcement and court proceedings against both his attackers and the rioters.
On the night of May 6, 2024, Masih was traveling home when he yet again encountered the same three attackers who had previously targeted him.
“They were armed and demanded that I delete the video,” said Masih. “I told them that I’d already given it to the authorities and deleted the footage off my phone. One of the men suggested that I should be silenced permanently when by God’s grace, some other cars pulled onto the previously empty road.”
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The attackers ran away and Masih was able to escape. He immediately called the emergency police line and explained what happened. The police arrived quickly at his home to take a statement.
Any optimism that the police would help was short-lived, however. Masih was accused of lying and filing a false report.
“Apparently, the father of one of the attackers told the police that he was living abroad, although I had just seen him hours before,” said Masih. “They refused to believe me, and they accused me of making a bogus call.”
Masih was then arrested and charged with filing a false complaint. He maintained his innocence overnight in jail but was sent to prison the next day, spending two days there before being granted bail.
Masih said he is seeking support and prayers for him and his family as they struggle with legal proceedings.
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James Jacob is a writer for Global Christian Relief (GCR), America’s leading watchdog organization focused on the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide. In addition to equipping the Western church to advocate and pray for the persecuted, GCR works in the most restrictive countries to protect and encourage Christians threatened by faith-based discrimination and violence.