Salamat Masih and thirty others, including his family members and close friends, gathered to pray last week (June 21) to celebrate the birth of his daughter. The group, meeting at Masih’s home in Academy Town, Peshawar, Pakistan, were attacked by a dozen Taliban – members of the Lashka-e-Islam group. The 12 Islamists broke into the house, shouting at the Christians and holding them at gunpoint. The Muslim house-owner, Haji Muhammad Saraj, was also present at the time to collect the rent. The Islamists separated the men from the women and children, then commanded the men, 16 altogether, to get into five waiting vehicles. The men were beaten and robbed of their cash and cell phones. The Islamists tried to persuade Pastor Zulifqar, one of the captives, to convert to Islam. He refused. The Christians were released about a half-a-day after their abduction.
