ASIA/PAKISTAN - A Christian tortured to death in a hospital

Wednesday, 28 March 2018 religious minorities politics justice violence islam christianity

D.A.

PAKISTAN

2024-12-18
Expansion of the Catholic Hospital in Hyderabad: at the service of the unborn and the terminally ill

2024-12-05
During Advent, testimony of unity and interreligious cooperation to promote peaceful coexistence

2024-11-28
Protests suspended: situation in Islamabad remains tense

2024-11-19
The commitment of the Franciscans: interreligious dialogue defuses religious and social tensions

2024-11-08
Another step towards the beatification of Akash Bashir: "spiritual miracles of conversion" are taking place

2024-11-07
Air pollution: religious communities launch initiatives to protect the "common home"

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - A Pakistani Christian died after the brutal beatings suffered by security guards and medical staff at a hospital in Lahore. As Agenzia Fides learns, Sunil Saleem, 26, was killed on March 26 while bringing food to his sister, Kiran Saleem, pregnant and hospitalized. The woman had to be visited by a gynecologist, but the doctor, who was on the phone, asked a nurse to visit her. When Kiran insisted on being visited by the doctor, a discussion broke out and the doctor, according to the report sent to Fides, slapped Kiran. Family members of the Christian girl protested. Johnson Saleem, Kiran's brother, said the security guards on duty threatened the woman's brothers, Sunil Saleem, Anil Saleem and brother-in-law Kashif Shafeeq, who were at the hospital. A fight broke out and the guards started to beat up the three men. According to what was reported to Fides, the security guards and at least three doctors continued to beat Sunil for about 30 minutes, and then abandoned him in critical condition. Shortly after, Sunil died. Family members filed a complaint at Shadman police station in Lahore.
Nasir Saeed, director of the NGO "Center for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement" (CLAAS), who defends Pakistani Christians, condemns the violence that often members of religious minorities in in Pakistan suffer and tells Fides: "The brutality against Sunil is not justifiable in any way. Too many continue to abuse the law, to take justice in their own hands and to kill innocent people with impunity. When a dispute involves a Christian, Muslims feel entitled to carry out intolerable violence, knowing that they will not be punished. This is not justice. It is sad to see that Pakistan, a country created with the support of religious minorities, has become a place where minorities live in constant fear for their lives.The government of Pakistan has failed to ensure them protection. Many are fleeing the country to seek refuge in other nations. Intolerance against religious minorities in Pakistan has reached a dangerous level and there is an urgent need to stop these atrocities". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 28/3/2018)