A Christian teen in Pakistan did indeed die earlier this month at the hands of Muslims because he was a Christian, a persecution watchdog has confirmed.
Nauman Masih was beaten, covered in kerosene and set on fire by the men. He died of his injuries five days later, on April 15.
He claimed he was attacked after admitting he was a Christian but Acting Deputy Inspector General Rana Ayaz Saleem, head of the Lahore Police Investigation Department, claimed to reporters that there was no religious motive for the crime, and that no statement from Masih was taken.
However, human rights attorneys Sardar Mushtaq Gill and Aneeqa Maria Akhtar from The Voice Society have come out to insist they witnessed Masih provide statements to police.
Watchdog group International Christian Concern also heard the teen's recollection of what happened to him.
"My tailor master asked me to go to the nearest market for some work and, on my way, [a] few men stopped me, asking my name and religion," the group recounted in Masih's words.
"I gave them my name and identified my religion as Christian. It was Friday prayers time and not many people [were] on the road.
"Suddenly they started beating and abusing me. I tried to rescue myself, however,[I] couldn't. One of them threw kerosene oil and [the] other set me on fire," he continued.
"With the help of the locals around I managed to stop the fire, however, [I became] unconscious."
Masih suffered burns to 55 per cent of his body and was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Most Pakistanis are of the Muslim faith, and religious minorities are often the victims of persecution, torture, and death.
One prominent example of religious persecution in the country is Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy.
Muslim women in her village were offended when she drank from the same well as them, and accused her of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Her sentence was appealed to the country's Supreme Court.
