Christian colony guarded after mob attack

author: FutureCar Staff    

Police in central Pakistan are guarding a Christian neighborhood after hundreds of Muslim men rampaged through the streets, setting fire to churches and ransacking homes. The violence erupted in Jaranwala, on the outskirts of Faisalabad, following allegations that Christians had desecrated the Koran. Families were forced to flee their homes as a result.

The Punjab provincial government announced that over 100 people have been arrested, with police actively seeking the individuals accused of defiling the Muslim holy book. Images on social media depict large crowds armed with sticks and rocks storming through the streets, with smoke rising from church buildings. A Christian resident, Yasir Bhatti, described how the mob broke windows and doors, looted household items, and burned Bibles.

In one video, a crowd cheers as a cross is torn from the top of a church, while the boundary walls of a Christian cemetery were vandalized. Local Muslim leaders used mosque loudspeakers to urge their followers to demonstrate, claiming that Christians had desecrated the Holy Koran. Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Pakistan, and anyone deemed to have insulted Islam or Islamic figures can face the death penalty.

The Christian community in Pakistan, which constitutes around two percent of the population, often faces spurious and unfounded blasphemy allegations. Christians occupy a low social status and are frequently targeted. Islamist right-wing leaders and political parties in Pakistan frequently rally around the issue of blasphemy, leading to violent demonstrations and assassinations.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has criticized the state for failing to protect religious minorities and allowing far-right extremism to grow within society and politics. The case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced a decade-long blasphemy row, highlighted the religious extremism prevalent in Pakistani society. The United States has expressed alarm at the recent attacks and called on Pakistan to launch an investigation.

Pakistan's newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister has pledged stern action against those who violate the law and target minorities. He expressed his distress at the situation and vowed to take measures to ensure the safety of all citizens.

FutureCar Staff