Pakistan: Two Christians arrested for eating during Ramadan

The Pakistani police on August 25 arrested two Christians for eating during the Islamic fasting season of Ramadan in the city of Silanwali.

According to the International Christian Concern (ICC), Gull Masih and Ashir Sohail was arrested when their bus to Lahore stopped at an eating point to let off passengers.

"After the waiter served them tea and a snack, several policemen started to question them as to why they were desecrating Ramadan by eating during the Islamic fasting season. The two Christians told the police that since they are Christians, they are not supposed to fast during Ramadan," ICC narrated.

Later, the police threw them in a van and took them to the Silanwali police station, charging them with desecrating the Islamic fasting month. The Christians have been transferred to the district jail in Sargodha.

Assaq Bhatti, the father of Gull Masih and paternal uncle of Ashir Sohail, told ICC that, "during Lent, all Muslims eat, drink and smoke publicly and neither police nor government authorities take notice of it. And none of the Muslims are arrested for desecrating Christians' Lent season."

ICC's Jonathan Racho said, "Forcing Christians to fast during the Islamic fasting month is both outrageous and a clear violation of freedom of religion. We call upon Pakistani officials to immediately release Gull and Ashir and take appropriate legal measures against police officers who detained them."

The interdenominational human rights organization called on Christians to "contact the Embassy of Pakistan in your country and politely ask the Pakistani officials to immediately release Gull and Ashir."