The news follows a previous report by Voice of the Martyrs Korea and other Christian aid groups that on May 25, up to 2,000 people gathered in the city of Sargodha in Punjab Province in response to an accusation broadcast over mosque loudspeakers that Nazeer Masih Gil, a 72-year-old Christian shoe factory owner, had burned a copy of the Quran. 

“According to reports from our partner Release International, Nazeer’s son tried to reason with the mob, apologizing if his father had mistakenly done anything wrong,” says Representative Foley. “But the mob would not listen.”  

She says members of the mob filmed themselves kicking and beating the elderly Christian until he was unconscious and then looting his shoe factory and ransacking his house. They allegedly posted these videos on social media.  

“Our partner, Release International, reported to us that the same mob stoned police when they tried to intervene and hurled bricks at the ambulance when it took Nazeer Masih Gil to the hospital,” says Representative Foley. He died from his injuries nine days later.  

Representative Foley says that 72-year-old Alla Rakhi, Nazeer’s widow, was so traumatized that she was unable to speak. 

“The couple’s son, Sultan, said that from that point on, ‘The tears in her eyes never dried,’” says Representative Foley. 

Reports say that on Friday June 21 the family called for emergency medical aid in response to Alla Rakhi experiencing chest pains. The emergency team gave her medicine but told her that no doctors would be available because of the Islamic weekly holy day, so she remained at home. Family members say she died of a heart attack an hour later. 

“In less than a month, as a result of a false accusation of blasphemy likely motivated by jealousy over a Christian’s business success, this family lost both parents and its shoemaking factory, which was burned to the ground by rioters,” says Representative Foley. “This leaves behind two grieving sons, five grieving daughters, and families now without work due to the damage to the business.”  

Representative Foley says the granting of bail to the murder suspects and the limited investigation by the police into the crime also add to the family’s burden. 

“There was even a rally after Nazeer’s death in which organizers showed their support for the killings, demanded that suspects be freed, and warned that others should expect to die like Nazeer for their alleged blasphemy,” says Representative Foley.  

The claim of blasphemy against Nazeer is the ninth blasphemy claim made in the city of Sargodha since 2023 according to sources.  

“There is a ‘chain reaction’ where one act of persecution in a community often leads to more acts of persecution in that same community,” says Representative Foley. “All Christians are called to faithfully witness to the Lord Jesus Christ even at the cost of our lives. The Bible tells us that suffering for Christ is an honor. But this subsequent death of Alla Rakhi due to grief is a tragedy. It shows how persecution impacts not only the one who is persecuted, but their family members and even the whole religious community. It highlights the need for Christians globally not only to honor the martyrs but to care for the families and churches they leave behind, and to stand with them and help them make sense biblically of what they are experiencing.” 

Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea sent 10,000,000 KRW in aid last month through Release International to support persecuted Christians and their families who choose to stay, or who have no choice but to stay, in settings of persecution in Pakistan.  

“Often when Christians around the world hear stories like this one about Nazeer Masih Gil and Alla Rakhi, their first thought is to help them escape the country to go somewhere ‘safe’. But in cases like these in Pakistan where Christians are falsely accused of blasphemy, helping those Christians flee often makes attackers more bold to assault the Christians who remain. It can also make the Christians look guilty and weak, and the witness to the gospel is silenced in the very places where such a witness is sorely needed. Supporting persecuted Christians to stand firm where they are helps make their communities safer for other believers in the future, and it helps make a positive witness for the gospel. But it means we have to be vigilant to stand with them and to share the stories of their faithful, suffering witness around the world.” 

Donations to Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s Families of Martyrs and Prisoners (FOM/FOP) fund can be made at www.vomkorea.com/en/donate or via electronic transfer to: 

국민은행 463501-01-243303 

예금주: (사)순교자의소리 

Please include the name “FOM/FOP” on the donation.