A 21-year-old Christian man was allegedly assaulted and burnt with hot iron rods by the family of a Muslim woman for ‘befriending’ her, it was reported in early April.
Ansar Masih first established contact with Jameela Bibi two years ago and their friendship grew over time. They often spoke over the phone and Masih would also visit the woman’s neighbourhood to meet her.
When the woman's family learned of the friendship, her father, Manzoor, and her brothers Mangu and Shahbaz, called Masih’s father asking him to tell his son to stay away from Jameela.
Stopping the motorcycle
Ansar’s mother sent him to collect some money from a friend in Jameela’s neighbourhood. While he was riding his motorcycle, he was stopped by Manzoor and his sons. They grabbed him, covered his head in a small sack and forcibly kidnapped him, taking him to their house.
Once he was taken to their home the three assailants stripped Ansar, beat him and burned him using hot iron rods until he was rendered unconscious. The men then allegedly brought Ansar, who was still unconscious, to his house and told his family that he had met with an accident.
