GETTY A mob called for Nabeel Masih to be hanged over a Facebook post

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Nabeel Masih had to be rushed out of a court hearing to escape the baying mob who threatened to burn his entire family. Masih faces the death penalty after posting a photograph of Kaaba in Mecca, one of holiest sites in Islam, on his profile. Locals claimed the “insulting and sacrilegious” image showed the Kaaba with a pig’s head on top. As he appeared in court this week charged with blasphemy an 80-strong mob confronted the teen, from Kasur in Punjab province.

The situation is getting more and more tense in this case and we do not have any security to handle the situation Lawyer Aneeqa Maria

The crowd threatened Masih and his family and called for the teenager to be hanged. Masih’s legal team said: “There were about 80 people of different age groups including students that were present in the premises only for Nabeel’s hearing and each of them was continuously calling on the phone for other people to come. Even the lawyers were threatened.” The mob reportedly threatened to wipe out Masih’s entire family as the judge announced the teenager could face the death sentence.

Masih is being represented by Aneeqa Maria from Pakistani Christian advocacy group, The Voice. Ms Maria claims the prosecution threatened the defence team for taking on the case. She said: “The prosecution lawyer said ‘Do you have any idea in what cases are you appearing as a counsel, it’s a blasphemy case and this man has blasphemed against Islam and you should know that Pakistan is an Islamic state, we are all Muslims, and these are Muslim courts so you should not defend such a criminal.

ANADOLU The Kaaba is one of the holiest sites in Islam

PHOTOTHEK Masih has been accused of blasphemy over a Facebook post

“’You people come from Lahore to pursue this case here we have unlimited people whom you cannot face, so you better watch yourself and stay away’. “The situation is getting more and more tense in this case and we do not have any security to handle the situation.” The hearing was postponed and will take place at a later date, yet to be set. Until then Masih remains in jail and his family have been forced to flee their home for fear of violence.