LAHORE, Pakistan — About 2,500 people attended a rally showing support for the lynching of a Christian and, just days later, a judge granted bail to 52 individuals suspected in the man’s death.
The Islamic extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan organized the June 9 rally in Sargodha in support of the slaying of Nazeer Masih Gill, report the news services Christian Daily International and Morning Star News.
After Gill, 74, was falsely accused of defiling the Quran, a Muslim mob severely beat, stoned and kicked him May 25. He died 10 days later.
The police report named 40 suspects and hundreds of unidentified participants.
‘Calculated’ assault?
On June 13, a Sargodha judge granted bail to about 52 accused in the killing, including three named in the police report, the news services state.
Attorney Asad Jamal said he believes police purposely conducted a shoddy investigation. Jamal, who is a Muslim, “was part of a fact-finding mission of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan that termed Gill’s lynching a ‘calculated assault, manipulated through religious fervor to gain maximum leverage,’” the news services say.
Pakistan is No. 7 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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