POC 19 Shahbaz Masih Family
The Persecuted
Our family:
- Shahbaz Masih – Father – 07-07-1982
- Asia Shahbaz – Mother – 10-09-1985
- Oliver John – Son – 30-10-2005
- Afeer John – Son – 28-07-2012
- Jennifer Janet – Daughter – 04-10-2015
Arrived as refugees in Bangkok: August 20, 2015
Refugee Status: “Refused” by UNHCR
Details on gaining Refugee Status is here.
From Persecution to Refuge: A Journey of Courage and Survival
Shahbaz Masih, a Christian from Karachi, Pakistan, recounts the severe persecution and threats he and his family faced due to his religious activities, which ultimately forced them to flee the country. Shahbaz, a devout member of the United Pentecostal Church (UPC), served as a church elder and was actively involved in evangelism and church leadership. His life took a drastic turn when he began preaching to Muhammed Ramzan, a Muslim shopkeeper, who eventually converted to Christianity and was baptized in May 2015.
Following Ramzan’s conversion, Shahbaz became a target of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a radical Islamic militant group. In May 2015, Shahbaz and his pastor, Ejaz Younas, were threatened by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members, who warned them to stop preaching Christianity in Pakistan. Despite the threats, Shahbaz continued his church activities, but in June 2015, he and Pastor Ejaz were violently attacked by the same group. Shahbaz was severely beaten, and Pastor Ejaz was shot in the leg.
After the attack, Shahbaz and his family went into hiding, first at his brother’s house and later at his in-laws’ home in Tando Jam. In July 2015, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members raided Shahbaz’s neighborhood, searching for him and threatening his family. Realizing that their lives were in grave danger, Shahbaz and his family sold their home at a loss and arranged for tourist visas to Thailand.
On August 20, 2015, Shahbaz, his wife Asia, and their two sons fled to Bangkok, seeking safety and international protection from the ongoing persecution they faced as Christians in Pakistan.
More information…
Shahbaz Masih — Detailed Statement
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First published: 2025/08/01/
Latest revision: 2025/09/15/