Pakistani Muslims gun down Christian friend

MUREEDKAY, Pakistan — A group of Muslims shot a Christian friend dead on the outskirts of Mureedkay in December after saying his life would be spared only if he recanted his faith, according to the young man’s father.

The friends of Patras Masih, who died from gunshot wounds Dec. 3 in Karol village, Punjab province, issued the ultimatum to him after accusing him of the murder of their friend Anees Mahammad. An autopsy showed Mahammad died from toxic alcohol poisoning earlier that day.

Masih’s father, Gulzar Masih, said his son was at home that day and had no contact with Mahammad and his son’s friends accused him of the murder only because he refused to recant Christianity and embrace Islam. His voice full of grief, Gulzar Masih said when his son refused to recite the Islamic conversion creed, Sohail Muhammad, Imran Muhammad and Amir Muhammad sprayed bullets at his chest, killing him instantly. “My son bravely refused to recant Christianity and clung to Christ,” Gulzar Masih said, dejected but with a small smile on his face. “He bravely embraced martyrdom.”