VOM has resently learned that the pastor of a small church was killed on April 2 by a shotgun fired at point blank range at his home in Manawala, near Lahore, Pakistan. George Masih, wife Aniata and four children were watching the JESUS film in their home around noon. When the movie finished and Aniata opened the door to go outside, two masked attackers burst in. One grabbed Aniata while the other shot George in the face and then hit him with the butt of the gun.
Masih had been a Christian for seven years and was active in ministering for the Lord. Two years ago, they moved to Manawala to plant a church there. Their work, however, drew the anger of a Muslim neighbour, Shokat Ali. Ali urged the landlord to evict the Masih family and had threatened to kill Masih if he continued preaching.
Pastor George Masih and family
About three hundred people gathered for the funeral, including many Muslims who had been blessed by Masih's ministry. Aniata told VOM sources, "I need the prayers of my brothers and sisters that I may be strengthened by the Lord our God to bear this loss." Aniata has four children, ages eight, four, two and one.
Pray for Aniata and the children as they deal with this terrible loss. Pray that the ministry begun in Manawala will continue and that many will come to faith in Jesus Christ, despite this tragedy.
For more information on persecution in Pakistan, click here.
VOMC partners to train Christian women in sewing skills throughout Pakistan to provide a sustainable source of income for their families and encourage them in their faith and witness for Christ.
Religion (%) Islam (96.5), Other - Christian and Hindu (3.5)
Leader President Asif Ali Zardari (2024)
Government type Federal parliamentary republic
Legal system Common law system with Islamic law influence
Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Pakistan
Pray that amendments will be made to Pakistan's existing blasphemy laws so that the country's citizens – including its children – will be protected from injustice and abuse. May our Lord's mercy and justice prevail, not only in the judiciary system but also in the hearts of the country's militants. Ask Him to transform their "hearts of stone" into hearts that are receptive to His love, mercy and the workings of His Holy Spirit – not only for the purpose of protecting the Christian minority but also for the salvation of their own eternal souls.
Sufyan Masih (left) with his parents and legal counsel. Photo: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
On November 16th, a district judge in Kasur, Punjab, overturned a ruling that had previously barred Sufyan Masih from reverting back to Christianity after allegedly converting to the Islamic faith. Sufyan's lawyer believes that the judge who presided over the initial court hearing had previously ruled against the Christian man due to a fear of receiving backlash from Muslim militants.
Girls in Pakistan. Photo: Flickr / European Union (cc)
Christians in Pakistan frequently face discrimination when having to deal with matters relating to governmental and/or legal concerns. Two recently occurring sexual assault cases demonstrate the ways in which believers often encounter unjust treatment from the authorities because of their faith. (To review other reports addressing the suffering of our Pakistani brothers and sisters in Christ, go to our country profile.)
A protest against Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Photo: Wikipedia / Vivek Ravikumar (cc)
While accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan are common and can be motivated by interpersonal conflicts or business disputes, there has been a nofigure increase in allegations based on social media posts. (To read previously published reports about Christians who have been charged with blasphemy, go to our country profile.)
According to the research findings of the AFP news agency, many such cases are taking place as a result of organized "vigilante groups" led by lawyers and the support of volunteers scouring the Internet for offenders. In some cases, unsuspecting social media participants are duped by strangers into sharing content that could be deemed blasphemous, resulting in police reports being filed against them.
Zimran Asim with his lawyer. Photo: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
The previous week's Persecution & Prayer Alert reported on an unusual case in which bail was granted to Saima Masih, a Christian woman who was accused of blasphemy in Pakistan. (Read the previously published report.) While Saima has been freed from prison, she remains in danger from the avenging violence of militant vigilantes who are seeking to achieve what they falsely perceive as "justice." Remarkably, this past October, two similar blasphemy cases came before the Pakistani courts in which other accused Christians were also released on bail.
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