PAKISTAN

29 April 2005

PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN BEATEN ALMOST TO DEATH BECAUSE MUSLIM BOSS WAS KIND TO HIM

Shahbaz Masih was attacked by a group of seven or eight Muslims from his village on 23rd April and left for dead, with both legs broken. His assailants are believed to be jealous of any success within the Christian community, and apparently singled him out because he was favourably treated by his Muslim boss.

Shahbaz Masih lives in a predominantly Muslim village called Chak No. 2 Mandi Baha-Uddin, south of the Pakistani capital Islamabad. There are some 20-25 Christian families in the village who mostly work as agricultural labourers for Muslim landowners. Shahbaz, a young man in his twenties, was a tractor driver for Mir Hussein, who treated him kindly, apparently because he was an honest and hard worker.

This kindness from a Muslim to a Christian caused resentment amongst the Muslim group who attacked Shahbaz last Saturday, reports a local church leader, who adds the group were also angered by two Christians doing well in their studies at school and university recently. According to one report the group had tried to force Shahbaz to convert to Islam. He is now in a critical condition in hospital.

SECOND CLASS CITIZENS

Many Muslims in Pakistan regard Christians as second-class citizens, “unclean”, and despicable. There are approximately three million Christians in Pakistan, about 2% of the population.

PRAYER ITEMS

* Praise God that Shahbaz Masih survived the brutal attack and pray for his full recovery.

* Christians in the village are fearful of other attacks. There is increasing violence towards Christians in Pakistan. Pray that they will have peace in their hearts as they trust God for protection.

* Thank the Lord for the example of Mir Hussein who refused to follow the common practice of Muslim landowners in Pakistan who normally despise and mistreat their Christian workers. Pray that the contrast between Mir Hussein’s attitude to Christians and the attitude of the gang who attacked Shahbaz Masih will become a talking point in Pakistan and that Muslims will be challenged to follow the example of Mir Hussein.

RELATED NEWS ITEMS

ONE SHOT DEAD AND SEVEN INJURED AFTER EASTER SERVICE http://www.barnabasfund.org/News/Archive/Pakistan/Pakistan-20050329.htm

CHRISTIAN FAMILY ABDUCTED, HUMILIATED AND BEATEN IN REVENGE FOR WIFE’S INTEGRITY http://www.barnabasfund.org/News/Archive/Pakistan/Pakistan-20050128.htm

PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN TORTURED TO DEATH BY POLICE; 40 CHRISTIAN PROTESTORS ARRESTED http://www.barnabasfund.org/News/Archive/Pakistan/Pakistan-20040908.htm

MUSLIM POLICE CONSTABLE MURDERS CHRISTIAN IN HOSPITAL ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY http://www.barnabasfund.org/News/Archive/Pakistan/Pakistan-20040610.htm

CHRISTIAN TORTURED TO DEATH BY ISLAMIC SEMINARY STUDENTS http://www.barnabasfund.org/News/Archive/Pakistan/Pakistan-20040514.htm

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