A 22-year-old Christian man, Waqas Masih, was severely attacked by his supervisor, Zohaib, at a paper mill in Punjab, Pakistan, on 22 March. The assault occurred after Masih refused to convert to Islam, highlighting the persistent religious intolerance in Pakistani society.
According to the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Masih suffered severe neck injuries and is currently recovering in the hospital. His attacker, Zohaib, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks against Christians in Pakistan, who make up only 1.9% of the country’s population. In August 2023, Muslims looted and burned over 25 churches and 85 homes in Jaranwala, leaving the Christian community living “in terror and without hope.”
Capuchin Franciscan Lazar Aslam, who visited Masih in the hospital, condemned the attack and called for social change to foster tolerance and protect the rights of all citizens. He also appealed to the international community to pray for the victims and their families, and to raise awareness about the plight of marginalized communities in Pakistan.