- ***WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT***
An elderly Christian in Pakistan who was beaten and stoned by a mob of 400 people after being accused of burning pages of the Koran has reportedly died from his injuries.
Nazir Masih and his son were greeted by an angry crowd at their home in the city of Sargodha, Punjab province, on May 25 after they allegedly desecrated the holy book.
The blasphemy accusations against Masih, who was 74, were believed to be false and have been denied by his family.
The factory owner and his son continued to be attacked, with the attackers punching, kicking and throwing stones at them, before setting fire to the family home and Masih’s factory.
Twelve members of Masih’s family managed to escape, while his son was beaten and the pensioner was seriously injured before police arrived and managed to get him away from the crowd.
Crowds gather near what is reported to be the house of Nazir Masih in the city of Sargodha, Punjab province, on May 25.
Horrifying images appear to show Masih surrounded by a growing crowd as an open wound on his head bleeds and he appears barely conscious.
He was rushed to hospital in critical condition and nine days later reports have emerged that he has succumbed to his injuries.
Terrifying images show Masih covered in dust and with an open wound on his head that is bleeding as people desperately try to help him.
Separate video of the incident shows crowds gathering on a residential street in the city, where Masih is believed to have lived, with smoke rising in the background as bonfires are lit.
Police have registered cases against around 450 people under an anti-terrorism law, UCA News reports, and 25 were arrested in the Masih attack.
Real estate agent Muhammad Jahangir reportedly filed a complaint with the police saying that Masih desecrated the Quran and “spread religious hatred by hurting the sentiments of Muslims and jeopardized peace in the area.”
Blasphemy is illegal in Pakistan and punishable by death, but the accused have, in many cases, been lynched before their cases could come to trial.
Human rights activists have argued that police are not doing enough to stop accusers from taking matters into their own hands.
The image is believed to show Christian factory owner Nazir Masih, who reportedly lost his life after the brutal attack.
Images shared on X appear to show Masih receiving treatment after the May 25 attack.
According to Father Khalid Rashid Asi, diocesan director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), Christians “only get involved in such incidents to settle personal scores and grudges.”
‘The mob does not have the right to lynch any person; “There is the police and the legal system to provide justice to everyone.”
Christians have taken to the streets to protest against the latest violence, while many are said to have left their area for their safety.
Reports emerged last week that Masih had died from his injuries, but were later refuted by a family member.
The attack comes just nine months after riots broke out in Jaranwala, a town in Punjab, following rumors that another man and his son had “disrespected” the Quran by putting photographs of themselves in it.
