Balochistan: A Christian Killed for his Faith

Younis Masih passed away Monday afternoon in the hospital after being shot 5 times for refusing to convert to Islam.

(SACRAMENTO) - We carry many articles about the pressure Christians face in Pakistan and India, sadly today we report the killing of a man over his Christian beliefs in Balochistan, (Technically a Pakistani state) a disputed territory heavily exploited by the Pakistani government from the time it was seized in the years following WWII.

The man apparently killed over his beliefs was Mr. Younas Masih 55, a resident of Chaman, Balochistan. He was shot 5 times by unidentified men on 31st January on his way home from work, according to a news release issued by Xavier P. William. Younas Masih's condition was very critical, he passed away Monday afternoon.

Those who knew Masih, who was employed by a local company in Chaman, describe him as a very honest man who was firm in his faith. He was actively involved in church activities.

According to reports, Masih was asked by his colleagues to embrace Islam, but he refused. He tried to ignore the heated conversations with his colleagues, but was threatened with dire consequences.

He is said to have had a heated discussion with his colleagues on this matter, on 31st January. As Masih was returning home, he was stopped and shot 5 times, then rushed to the hospital in a critical condition.

The doctors operated and took out the 5 bullets and he was then transferred to ICU (Intensive Care Unit). He remained unconscious for three days, during which time Masih`s son tried to reach the police, but he says they refused to register the First Information Report (FIR) - a written document prepared by police organizations in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Japan when they receive information about a crime. Despite several attempts the police department refused to comment or even look into the matter.

Younis Masih passed away Monday afternoon in the hospital. His wife has been unconscious and the family is devastated on Masih`s death.

Xavier P. William says Human Rights organizations Masihi Foundation and Life for All have condemned the incident and demanded immediate action in the matter. They question the scornful attitude of the authorities. The year 2012 was a worst year for the minorities in Pakistan. They were deprived of the their rights and discriminated at various levels.

"This is really tragic, it breaks one`s heart to know that an innocent has been killed for his faith. They threatened him various times and the most devastating behavior of the concerned authorities. Specially the police reacted in a very insensitive way, we demand protection of lives and properties of the minorities in Pakistan. The authorities must ensure that the basic rights of the minorities ate safe guarded," Xavier P. William said.

With almost 25 years of experience on the west coast and worldwide as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor, Tim King is Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. His background includes covering the war in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, and reporting from the Iraq war in 2008. Tim is a former U.S. Marine who follows stories of Marines and Marine Veterans; he's covered British Royal Marines and in Iraq, Tim embedded with the same unit he served with in the 1980's.

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