Pakistan: Muslim teacher assaults five-year-old Christian boy for drinking water from her glass

Image: Jihad Watch

In a deeply distressing incident that has once again drawn global attention to the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan, a young Christian boy was allegedly beaten and humiliated by his Muslim schoolteacher for drinking water from her glass. The incident reportedly took place in Punjab and came to light after a heart-wrenching video of the child and his father went viral on social media.

In the video, the boy—believed to be around five years old—sits beside his father, visibly shaken, as they recount the traumatic experience. According to the father's statement, his son, overwhelmed by the scorching heatwave gripping the region, innocently drank water from his teacher’s glass. This simple act led to an aggressive response from the teacher, who not only slapped the child but also scolded and verbally abused him using the derogatory slur “Issai Chura”—a term historically used in Pakistan to demean and dehumanize Christians.

The footage has since spread rapidly, especially among Christian communities and human rights organizations, reigniting concerns over the increasing religious intolerance faced by minorities in the country. Advocates have condemned the attack as not just an isolated incident, but a reflection of a much deeper societal issue—one where hatred and prejudice against Christians are becoming disturbingly normalized.

Pastor Imran Amanat, the head of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, strongly condemned the act. “This child committed no crime. He was merely quenching his thirst in unbearable heat. Yet he was physically assaulted—simply because he is a Christian,” said Pastor Amanat. “Unfortunately, this isn’t an anomaly. We are seeing more cases where Christians are ostracized and denied access to basic human rights, including drinking water from shared sources or using the same utensils as Muslims.”

Pastor Amanat further warned of the dangerous consequences of unchecked religious bigotry: “This Christian-phobia is poisoning our society. The trauma inflicted on children like this young boy—both physically and emotionally—cannot be ignored. We call on authorities to take immediate action and ensure that justice is served, and more importantly, that such discriminatory behavior is addressed at a systemic level.”

The incident has sparked calls for reforms in school environments, teacher training, and community awareness to combat ingrained religious bias. It also underlines the urgent need for Pakistan to uphold the rights and dignity of its minority citizens, as guaranteed under its constitution and international human rights obligations.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)