On the first anniversary Shama and Shahzad Masih's death, who were burnt alive in a brick kiln by a mob who accused them of blasphemy in Pakistan, the NGO which cares for their children has spoken out.
A local police station official in Kot Radha Kishan, 40 miles from Lahore, explained last year that the bodies of the couple were burnt in the brick kiln where they worked.
"Yesterday [5 November 2014] an incident of desecration of the Holy Quran took place in the area and today the mob first beat the couple and later set their bodies on fire at a brick kiln," he said.
The Cecil Chaudhry & Iris Foundation, an NGO which promotes projects for the most marginalised groups in Pakistan, is looking after the couple's children.
"We wanted to bring a change for the better in the lives of these children. Today it gives us great pleasure to see these children happy, safe and engaged in school activities."
The president of the foundation, Michelle Chaudhry, told Fides: "Shama and Shahzad are in our hearts; two innocent lives lost due to extreme bigotry in our society."
"The fanatics not only burned two precious lives in the furnace; they burned humanity, they burned the principles of Islam, and burned Jinnah's Pakistan and no monetary compensation can make up for such an extreme act of violence".
The foundation recalled "the judgement of of 19 June 2014 when the Supreme Court expressly asked the government to promote religious and social tolerance and to protect religious minorities".
They are seeking justice for Shama and Shahzad, so that the perpetrators might be brought to justice and that "the safety of every Pakistani regardless of faith, gender, language, ethnicity is guaranteed, as enshrined in the constitution."
