“Masih,” that is, “Messiah,” is a common surname for Christians in Pakistan. This story says that doctors were reluctant to treat him because it is Ramadan and he was drenched in sewage sludge, but it also must be noted that the Qur’an says, “O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean” (9:28), and considers Christians polytheists for worshiping the Trinity: “O People of the Book, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary, and a soul from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, ‘Three’; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son.” (4:171). Thus the doctors likely regarded Irfan Masih as unclean not just because he was covered with sewage sludge, but because he was a Christian.

“Sanitary worker dies in Umerkot after fasting doctors refuse to touch his ‘unclean’ body,” by Z Ali, Express Tribune, June 2, 2017: