A 22-year-old Christian man was found dead at a farmhouse in Punjab, Pakistan. His family claimed his death was made to look like a suicide after he endured torture from his employers.

Marqas Masih’s body was found on March 3, hanging from a beam at a farmhouse in Sargodha. The farm owners first said that he had taken his own life. But when his family prepared his body for the funeral, they saw many injuries and marks of torture. This led them to believe that someone killed him.

According to Masih’s family, he had been working at the farm for several years to pay off a loan. His family had borrowed 270,000 Pakistani rupees ($968) from the farm owners. Because they could not repay the money, Masih had to work for them to pay off the debt.

His brother said the farm’s owners often beat Masih. They only allowed him to visit his family once a year. His monthly salary was only 15,000 rupees ($54), which made it almost impossible for him to repay the loan and leave the job.

During his last visit home in November, Masih told his family that he did not want to return to the farm. He said the owners treated him badly and beat him. He wanted to find another job. But he had no other work and still had the debt, so he had to return to the farm.

After his death, locals protested and demanded justice for Masih. Nearly 200 people blocked the road and shouted slogans against the farm owners.

However, instead of only investigating the killing, the police also registered a case against 19 Christians who joined the protest. Authorities accused them of blocking traffic and causing problems. Many people believe this happened because of the farm owners’ influence.

Later, police detained the two farm owners, Muhammad Mohsin and Muhammad Basharat, and started an investigation. The accused are now in custody while the case continues.

Activists say this case shows a bigger problem in Pakistan. Many workers find themselves trapped in bonded labor. This means they take a loan and then must work for years to repay it. Often, the debt never ends, and workers are treated badly.

Religious minorities, including Christians, are often victims of this system because they usually work in low-paid and difficult jobs.

Sadly, many cases like this do not end with full justice. Powerful people sometimes escape punishment by using their influence, giving money to the victim’s family, or avoiding the law.

Many Christians hope that this time justice will be done. They pray that the situation for minorities trapped in bonded labor will change and that workers like Masih will no longer suffer such abuse.

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email [email protected]. To support ICC’s work around the world, please give to our Where Most Needed Fund.