A Christian sanitary worker in Pakistan (Sialkot) who says he is facing repeated pressure to convert to Islam has appealed to the country's Prime Minister to intervene, saying he no longer feels safe and needs urgent protection.
Michael Masih who had worked in the Bureau of Statistics in Sialkot for 14 years, says he faced months of humiliation, threats, and physical mistreatment when he refused. He claims the harassment began when a senior officer called him into his office and encouraged him to embrace Islam, telling him that a Christian boy in a nearby district had converted and was now seeking marriage. Michael says he clearly stated that he wished to remain Christian, explaining that he was born into a Christian family and did not want to change his faith.
According to Michael, the officer became increasingly hostile. He claims he was insulted publicly, mocked for his faith, and pressured again to convert. Michael alleges that during one incident he was physically assaulted before another staff member intervened.
He says the senior officer changed his name to “Shehzada”, instructed staff to address him by that name, and stopped his family from calling him Michael.
Fearing for his safety, he has now resigned.
Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK, said incidents like these show how vulnerable Christians and religious minorities have become in their workplaces and communities:
“Unfortunately, Pakistani society is becoming increasingly intolerant towards religious minorities, especially Christians. It is painful to see that pressuring someone to convert is still viewed by many as an acceptable or even virtuous act. Christian workers often feel the need to be extremely cautious because incidents like this could happen to anyone.”
He added that Pakistan still lacks specific legislation to criminalise coercion, pressure, or attempts to change someone’s faith, leaving minority communities without meaningful protection.
“There is no law in Pakistan that clearly criminalises attempts to pressure people into changing their religion. As a result, Christians face violations of their freedom of religion on a daily basis. This is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution and by international treaties Pakistan has signed, yet it remains widely ignored.”