Pak Christians Clash With Cops at Funeral of ‘Murdered’ Youth
ICC Note
Pakistani Christians protested during the funeral of a Christian man who was murdered in prison. The man, Falish Masih, had been imprisoned after Muslims accused him of blasphemy.
By Joseph Keenan
09/16/2009 Pakistan (The Christian Post)-Violence broke out in certain parts of Pakistan even as Christians buried Robert Masih, 21, who was mysteriously found dead at his jail cell a day earlier in Sialkot , in the eastern province of Punjab .
Pakistani Christians clash with security officials Wednesday even as Christians attended the funeral of Robert Masih, accused of blasphemy was mysteriously found dead at his jail cell Tuesday in Sialkot , in the eastern province of Punjab .
Robert, also known as Felish Masih, 21 was accused of desecrating Quran, the holy book of Islam. He was jailed Saturday on charge of blasphemy after a Muslim family accused him of throwing pages of Koran in the drain; but his local supporters said the family claimed that he had been admiring their daughter, according to Pakistan Christian Post.
However, leaders of the Christian community alleged that Masih was “tortured to death” by jail officials. They claimed the officials “staged a drama” about Masih committing suicide.
Sources said hundreds of people attended Masih's funeral. Dozens of young mourners began pelting stones at police, who resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas into the crowd in Sialkot .
