Lahore, Pakistan, Feb 15, 2010 / 20:16 pm
A Catholic family in a Pakistani village has suffered from threats by Muslim neighbors, culminating in their house being burned to the ground.
According to the Vatican-based Fides news agency, the family of Walayat Masih from the village of Shadokey near Lahore had been threatened repeatedly by Muslim neighbors who insisted the family convert to Islam or leave the area.
Wayalat had refused to sell his home that bordered his Muslim neighbors because he had inherited the property from his ancestors. Following the alleged threats, the Masih family home was reportedly burned to the ground on Jan. 26, leaving Walayat's wife and four children homeless.
Fides reported that although the family sought to register the complaint, the local police not only refused to do so but further harassed the family.