Alleged blasphemy: Mobs burn Christian churches, homes in Pakistan
At least two churches in Punjab province’s Jaranwala town have been attacked by armed mobs.
The mob of angry Muslims, who were allegedly incited by a local cleric, vandalized and torched the churches and several houses belonging to Christians, destroying their property and belongings.
They also desecrated Bibles and removed crosses from the churches.
The mobs carried out the attacks after accusing two Christian residents of blasphemy.
According to Aljazeera news, social media videos showed a violent mob armed with sticks and batons setting fire to two churches in Jaranwala, a town 115 km (71 miles) away from Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.
Order was restored after the police and the paramilitary forces intervened to disperse the rioting crowd, but not before they had caused a lot of damage.
The authorities have detained many of the rioters and vowed to punish them severely.
According to a Police inspector, Mohammed Naved, the authorities were trying to restore order in the area.
“We are undertaking all legal measures as required in the situation.”
Two local Christians were accused and arrested for blasphemy by the police after some pages of the Quran with disrespectful words written on them were found near their colony.
The incident sparked a religious uproar and a tense situation in Jaranwala, Faisalabad.
Pakistan has a history of violence over blasphemy allegations, which are very sensitive in the country.
Many people have been killed or attacked for being accused of insulting Islam or its holy book, the Quran.
According to the Centre for Social Justice, a group that works for minority rights, more than 2,000 blasphemy cases have been registered since 1987, and at least 88 people have lost their lives because of them.
Religious minorities in Pakistan, especially Christians, who constitute about 1.6% of the population, face constant threats and attacks from extremists who misuse the blasphemy laws to target and harass them.
The recent incidents of violence against churches and Christian homes in Jaranwala, Punjab, have revealed the extent of their insecurity and vulnerability.
The Christian community in Pakistan has been shaken by the recent attacks, which have drawn strong criticism and sympathy from various sources, such as the interim prime minister, the head of the Church of Pakistan, and the National Human Rights Commission.
They have demanded justice and security for the Christians, as well as a revision of the blasphemy laws.
The situation also underscores the importance of interfaith dialogue and respect in Pakistan, where many people have lost their lives to religious fanaticism and sectarian conflict over the years.
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Source: Aljazeera