Pakistan's Bishops Seek Inquiry into Christian's Death in Custody

(16 Sep 09 - RV) BISHOPS throughout Pakistan have written to the President demanding a public inquiry after a young man died in suspicious circumstances while in police custody


The young Christian man who was arrested this weekend in a Punjabi village on blasphemy charges was killed last night in prison.


His body was marked with visible signs of injuries.


The controversy was sparked by Fanish Masih’s relationship with a Muslim girl and his alleged throwing away a copy of the Qur‘an she had in her hands. A Muslim mob reacted by setting fire to a Christian church and pillaging two homes.


News of the death came on the heels of a statement from Pakistan’s National Commission for Justice and Peace, expressing “grave concern” over the rising tide of violence against religious minorities, all in the name of the blasphemy law.


We spoke with the NCJP’s Executive Secretary, Peter Jacob: