December 8, 2011
Khurram Masih, 25, a Christian resident of Qazi, Pakistan, was accused of destroying a copy of the Qur'an while working as a brickmason in a Muslim's home and now faces charges of blasphemy, International Christian Concern reports. As Masih and fellow workers were burning trash after installing marble in Abdul Majeed's home, Majeed suddenly shouted that Masih had burned parts of a Qur'an, and the other workers assaulted Masih and took him to the police. Despite Pakistani religious leaders and human rights activists gathering at the police station, the police and local residents were unwilling to release Masih. "His life is in danger at the police station," said the Rev. Francis Xavier of the Catholic Diocese of Lahore. "Announcements have been made in the area about the incident; hatred toward the Christians is being spread. The authorities must step forward and take necessary action to safeguard the precious lives."
