Christian labourer accused of stealing fruits from a field was beaten to death by the land owner on Monday in the Khanewal area of Punjab province.
Emanuel Masih, a Christian labourer in Pakistan was reportedly beaten to death by Mohammed Waseem, a landowner who accused him of stealing oranges from his field. Masih, according to eyewitnesses to ANI, was said to be the breadwinner of his family, and survived by his wife and six children.
Masih was said to be approached and beaten by Waseem alongside four other men after accusing him of stealing fruits from his field, the beating in which later led to his death.
In an interview with Morning Star News, the victim’s nephew, Zahid Sahotra said his uncle pleaded his innocence but he still got beaten up mercilessly, which later led to his death. He said; “My uncle was busy in work when Waseem and the other men approached him and accused him of stealing their citrus,” Sahotra told Morning Star News. “He plead his innocence, but the men lunged at him and beat him up mercilessly, resulting in his death.”
The impoverished labourer was the only breadwinner for his wife and six children, Sahotra said. “He was very hard-working and honest, and police found no evidence from the crime scene that suggested that he had committed any theft,” he said, adding that the 35 Christian families in the village are poor labourers who work for Muslim landowners. “We are very poor and too weak to even think of offending the Muslim villagers. They know that we are helpless and that they can get away with anything, even murder.”
Sahotra also said that though the murderers have been arrested, it might not take them time to get out on bail. He pleaded with Churches and Christian Right Groups to help his family.
The UN had shown some concern towards the persecution of Christians in Pakistan. They said they were concerned by the continuous persecution and acts of violence executed by State and non-state actors in Pakistan, triggered by claims of apostasy and blasphemy, often focusing on religious or belief minorities.
Over time, the minority community majorly consisting of Hindus and Christians, are being antagonised and treated unfairly, persecuting them at any chance on the basis of very petty issues.
