Mob wants Pakistani Christian teen hanged over Facebook post about Islam

A mob is demanding that a 16-year-old Pakistani Christian should be hanged because of a Facebook post that allegedly insulted Islam.

Nabeel Masih was arrested and charged with blasphemy last September after a photo of the Kaaba in Mecca reportedly appeared on his Facebook profile. It was claimed that the image showed a pig's head on top of the Kaaba, one of the holiest sites in Islam.

It is unclear whether he was tagged in the post, liked the photo or posted the image himself.

According to Express, the mob threatened Masih and his family and called for his execution when he appeared in court last week to face the charges against him. The judge stated that the teenager could face the death penalty if convicted.

Masih's legal team said that 80 people from different age groups attended the hearing and each of them are calling other people on the phone to go to the hearing. The lawyers were also reportedly threatened.

Masih's lawyer, Aneeqa Maria from the Pakistani Christian advocacy group, The Voice, said the prosecution also intimidated the defense team for taking Masih's case.

"The situation is getting more and more tense in this case and we do not have any security to handle the situation," said Maria.

The date for the next hearing is yet to be announced. Masih will remain in prison until then. His family has already left their home out of their fear of violence.

The British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) is worried that the authorities are trying to find more evidence they can use against Masih.

"The investigation is taking longer then expected so they have asked for more time to complete their supplementary report. In other words just in case Nabeel escapes a blasphemy charge due to international outrage, the police will find another way to detain Nabeel against his liberty," the BPCA said in a statement.