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Confronting Religious Persecution at the IRF Summit

Feb. 10Stories That Demand Action:

Last week I spoke on a panel at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C.—a global gathering that brings together advocates, policymakers, and legal experts from around the world who are on the front lines of defending religious freedom. The Summit provides a rare forum to share firsthand experiences, expose ongoing...More

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Persecuted Pakistani Christians

We recently informed you about a Christian man who was attacked by a Muslim mob after his neighbors falsely accused him of burning the Quran. Nazir Masih, the Christian man, was rushed to a hospital, but he did not survive.

Only a few days later, another man was murdered by an angry mob. This time the man who was brutally murdered was a Muslim. This is yet another horrific tale of lawlessness and injustice that has stalked Pakistan’s legal system for way too long.

On June 20, 2024, Mohammad Ismail was violently killed by a mob in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, after being accused of desecrating a copy of the Quran. Public announcements made in the mosque spread the news of the accusation, which incited a rapid response. Fully committing to the call to action, the locals of the area resolved to mercilessly torture the man before the police took the victim in their custody. However, the situation was exacerbated when a mob gathered outside the police station, set fire to the building, and forcibly captured the accused man. Zahidullah Khan, the district police chief, confirmed that the victim was beaten to death, and then his body was set on fire. Videos of the mob torturing Mohammad Ismail and setting his body on fire were widely circulated on social media.

Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Planning Minister, expressed his disapproval of this act during the National Assembly session. Also, “Every day, minorities are being killed” were the words of Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, in condemning the act. He has also called for a resolution for the protection of minorities.

Pakistani authorities have started an investigation to hold those involved in Ismail’s murder responsible. It is yet to be seen if there will be any consequences for these offenders or if they will escape consequences, as in the case of Nazir Masih. The cry for accountability was disregarded when approximately 40 people who were arrested after murdering Nazir Masih were released on bail. However, the ACLJ’s affiliate has taken the initiative to represent Nazir Masih’s family in Pakistan.

The stories of Nazir Masih and Mohammad Ismail are reminiscent of other similar incidents where innocent people are falsely accused and then brutally murdered. The shock of the attack in Jaranwala, Pakistan, that happened last year still has not subsided. In that incident, two brothers were falsely accused of desecrating the Quran, and thousands of men were incited to attack the local Christian community. The result was the destruction of over 20 churches and 80 homes that belonged to Christians. The inhumane killing of Sri Lankan man Priyantha Kumara in 2021 is another testimony of the cruelty of mobs acting as judges and executioners. Kumara had been living and working in Pakistan for 11 years. After facing accusations of blasphemy, he was beaten, killed, and set on fire by a mob in Sialkot.

The only verdict that the mob saw fitting for Kumara was death. In fact, in 1991, even Pakistan’s Federal Shariah Court stated that the only appropriate punishment for blasphemy was the death penalty. The blasphemy laws incorporated in the Pakistan Penal Code prescribe severe punishments, including the death penalty, for those accused. Section 295-C of the Penal Code prescribes the death penalty for insulting speech against the Prophet Muhammad, and Section 295-B prescribes life imprisonment for desecrating the Quran. However, the laws neglect to dictate any repercussions for the perpetrators of false accusations. Instead, these laws have given rise to a culture where the value of human life is easily overlooked in the face of blind, ruthless religious zeal.

The murders of Nazir Masih and Mohammad Ismail are the most recent stories of mob takeovers where brutal judgment for an alleged crime was delivered without a shred of evidence. Yet two more families are left traumatized with grief and public humiliation beyond words. History awaits the fate that will be handed to those who killed these men.

When it came to Nazir Masih, a Christian, the perpetrators did not have to face the wrath of justice, but will justice prevail for the murderers of Mohammad Ismail, a Muslim?

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Signatures

Shaheryar Gill  //

Feb 10, 2026

Last week I spoke on a panel at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C.—a global gathering that brings together advocates, policymakers, and legal experts from around the world who...

Shaheryar Gill  //

Jan 27, 2026

We recently informed you about V, a seven-year-old girl, who was sexually abused by a Muslim neighbor in Pakistan. We have been working on a similar, and even more horrific, case in which two Christian women...

Shaheryar Gill  //

Jan 21, 2026

Today I want to bring you an important update on another critical case involving a vulnerable seven-year-old Christian girl , to whom we will refer as “V” to protect her identity. V was sexually abused by a...