Lahore: Nabil Masih, a young Christian man arrested in 2016 at the age of 16 on blasphemy charges, has died after years of suffering, imprisonment, and medical neglect. His story is a stark reminder of the deep flaws in Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and the persistent persecution of religious minorities. 

Nabil was arrested on September 18, 2016, in Phoolnagar, near Kasur, after a local man accused him of sharing a blasphemous image on Facebook. The image allegedly depicted the Kaaba — Islam’s holiest site — with a pig’s head, a deeply offensive symbol in Islamic tradition. Nabil consistently denied ever posting the image. 

Despite being a minor at the time of arrest, he was charged under Section 295 ("defiling a place of worship") and Section 295-A ("outraging religious feelings") of the Pakistan Penal Code. He was denied bail and kept in custody for several years without trial. In 2018, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. 

During his time in jail, Nabil endured physical and psychological abuse. He was often kept in isolation due to threats from fellow inmates and guards. After nearly five years of incarceration, he was granted bail on medical grounds by the Lahore High Court in March 2021 and released later that month. 

While imprisoned, Nabil developed several painful lipomas (fatty tumors) on his body, which were left untreated by prison authorities. After his release, he underwent his first surgery in May 2021 to remove them. The tumors returned in early 2025, requiring another surgery in March. 

In June 2025, Nabil fell seriously ill and was diagnosed with acute Hepatitis E. His liver was severely affected — with dangerously high bilirubin and enzyme levels — and he experienced fatigue, jaundice, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain. He was admitted to Hamid Latif Hospital in Lahore, where his condition initially stabilized but later deteriorated. By mid-July, he was unable to speak or walk and was transferred to another private facility for critical care. On July 31, 2025, Nabil passed away at the age of 25. 

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, has long advocated for victims of abuse under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. The organization consistently raised awareness about Nabil’s case and called for meaningful legal reform to prevent further misuse of these laws. 

Pastor Imran Amanat, leader of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, urged the nation and the international community to pray for Nabil’s grieving family. He emphasized that the family too had suffered in silence, living under the same threats, fear, and social exclusion that plagued Nabil’s life. He called their pain a reflection of the wider tragedy caused by the misuse of blasphemy laws in the country. 

Human rights defenders in Pakistan and abroad repeatedly warned that Nabil’s case was not isolated. Blasphemy accusations are often used to target minorities, settle personal disputes, or incite mob violence — with little to no protection for the accused. 

Nabil’s death is a tragic indictment of a system that punishes the accused before guilt is proven. From arrest to death, his life was shaped by fear, exclusion, and neglect — not justice. 

His story raises critical questions: Why are minors treated as criminals in blasphemy cases? Why are courts unable to provide timely trials and protections? Why does society allow such laws to be weaponized against the vulnerable? 

Nabil Masih’s life was cut short not just by illness, but by years of wrongful incarceration, trauma, and a system that failed him at every level. His death must not be forgotten. It should serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers, religious leaders, and civil society to come together and ensure that no other child suffers the same fate. 

Nabil Masih — Your silence now speaks volumes. You were failed by the law, but your story may yet inspire its reform.