Blasphemy suspect in Pakistan jumps from building to escape torture

Authorities in Pakistan are investigating reports of a Christian man who threw himself from the fourth floor of a building in the city of Lahore to escape torture during detention.

The Christian man, who sustained severe injuries, had been accused of blasphemy in Pakistan.

Authorities and doctors say “Sajid Masih” is receiving treatment at a hospital in Lahore following fractures to his legs and jaw.

Masih and one of his close relatives were initially arrested on charges of posting anti-Islamic content on Facebook. They were being interrogated by cybercrime experts at the “Federal Investigation Agency” at the agency’s main office in Lahore when Masih threw himself from the fourth floor of the building on Wednesday.

Officials of the “Federal Investigation Agency” have denied allegations of torturing the suspect or harassing him, saying “no one even laid a hand on him.” They insist that Masih panicked after being asked to unlock his phone for inspection.

In a video circulated on social media, Masih accused several “Federal Investigation Agency” officers of severely torturing him and threatening both him and his close associate with sexual assault, at which point he decided to throw himself out of the building.

Dozens of activists and human rights organizations in Pakistan strongly condemned the incident that befell Sajid Masih in a joint statement released on Monday, and also strongly condemned the abuse of Pakistan’s strict blasphemy law against religious minorities in the country.

Previously, several other Pakistani Christians had been subjected to severe harassment and persecution on charges of blasphemy.

Source: Voice of America