Two Christian brothers, Azam and Nadeem George Masih, were reportedly kidnapped on January 22nd before being beaten and forced to recite an Islamic conversion creed. The assailants recorded a video statement in which the brothers were forced to state that they had converted to Islam of their own free will.
Azam had been working at his tailor shop in the Sialkot District of Punjab when he was taken by gunpoint to the home of one of the suspects and subsequently beaten. The attackers later abducted his younger brother Nadeem, whom they also tortured before forcing both Christians to recite the fundamental beliefs of Islam as statements of their conversions. After stealing the victims' mobile phones and other belongings, then threatening to kill them if they disclosed the incident to anyone, the perpetrators released the two Christians. The victimized brothers have since received medical treatment for their injuries.
While such incidents of persecution are frequently overlooked by the authorities, police are investigating the attack and have taken two suspects, Qaseem Shah and Sunny Shah, into custody. Both perpetrators possessed previous criminal backgrounds and were also known for inciting hatred against Christians.
Despite pleas from governmental leaders for peace, tensions remain high for Christians in the area. Azam and Nadeem have reportedly gone into hiding and cut off all communication due to fear of retribution from militant Muslim community members. Additional prayer alert reports on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, including videotaped podcasts/segments, are available at our country report.
Pray for God to minister needed physical, spiritual and emotional healing to Azam and Nadeem, as they now seek refuge and safety in the aftermath of the attacks. May truth and justice prevail in each of their cases, and may those responsible for the attacks against these Christian brothers be held accountable for their violent actions. Furthermore, pray that the Lord will work deeply within the hearts and minds of Pakistan's governing officials – and, as a result, change the wrongful mindsets of others in the country who want to inflict harm on followers of Jesus, so that incidents of persecution would not be tolerated in the future.
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