http://www.realcourage.org/2010/03/pakistan-christian-couple-burned-raped-protests-denied/
In Pakistan, media sources report that a Christian husband was burned alive and his wife raped for refusing to convert from Christianity to Islam. The husband, Arshed Masih, has suffered burns over 80 percent of his body, and is listed in critical condition at the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. BosNews is reporting that Christian groups sought to protest the " 'refusal' of police to detain" those allegedly responsible, and that such Christian group protests were denied because of "terrorism threats."
"Pakistani Christian couple refuses to convert: husband is burnt alive, wife raped by police" by Fareed Khan"Both husband and wife worked for a wealthy Muslim businessman in Rawalpindi. Their three children, ranging from 7 and 12, were forced to watch their parents brutalised. The man has suffered 80 per cent burns, and hospital doctors do not think he will survive. Christian organisations stage protests."
"Arshed Masih, 38, is still fighting for his life in Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, a city not far from Pakistan’s capital. With the help of police, Muslim extremists last Friday set him on fire for refusing to convert to Islam and raped his wife, local sources told AsiaNews. The incident occurred in front of a local police station."
"In 2005, Masih and his wife began working for a wealthy Muslim businessman, he as driver and she as his wife’s maid. Recently, the two fell out of favour with their employer and his family because they insisted on remaining Christian."
"During the incident, Masih’s wife, Martha, 'was raped by police agents,' local sources said. The couple's three children, ranging in age from 7 and 12, were forced to watch their parents being brutalised."
"'Masih and his wife are currently being treated in hospital,' Holy Family Hospital officials said. 'He was listed in serious condition with about 80 per cent of his body burned,' the BosNewsLife agency reported. With that kind of burns, hospital officials said the 38-year-old victim (pictured) is not likely to survive."
"On Sunday, the Government of Punjab government announced an investigation into what happened. 'The matter will be investigated and the culprits will be arrested,' Punjab's Minister of Law Rana Sanaullah said."
"The Christian couple lived with their children in the servant quarters of Sheikh Mohammad Sultan's estate in Rawalpindi. In January, religious leaders and Sultan reportedly told Arshed to convert to Islam with his whole family. After he refused, they threatened him with 'dire consequences'."
"Arshed offered to quit his job, but the businessman allegedly said he would 'kill' him if he were to leave."
"Last week, tensions rose after Sultan reported the theft of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (almost US$ 6,000), and an official complaint (First Information Report) was filed with police."
"Although the Christian couple was not named as suspect, the businessman offered them to drop the case if they converted to Islam or 'else that both would not see their children again.'"
"The rest is known. Arshed Masih chose to remain loyal to his Christian faith, and last Friday he was set on fire and his wife raped by police."
- Pakistan's Arshed Masih burned over 80 percent of his body
"Citing 'terrorism threats', the government of Pakistan's Punjab province banned protests Monday, March 22, against the 'refusal' by police to detain those who burned a Christian man for not converting to Islam, while raping his wife.
"'There is a possible threat of terrorism, so it is better to avoid any processions,' the government told Life for All, one of the Christian advocacy groups organizing the demonstrations."
"It wasn't clear who had made the threats. Officials of Pakistan's Christian minority expressed concerns however about attacks by Islamic extremists, including fighters linked to al-Qaida and other militant groups."
"Monday's demonstrations were to be organized in the cities of Lahore and Rawilpindi, where police and religious leaders allegedly attacked the Christian couple Friday, March 19."
"Rape of Martha and burning of her husband Arshad Masih is worst shape of enforced conversion to Islam in Pakistan."
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