Muslims in Pakistan burn down churches because they say Christians are disrespecting the Quran

Muslims in Pakistan burn down churches because they say Christians are disrespecting the Quran.

Multan, Pakistan — A violent incident unfolded in Jaranwala, a district in Punjab province, Eastern Pakistan, when allegations of Quran desecration by a Christian man, Raja Amir, and his friend ignited chaos. The accusations led to the destruction of Amir’s house, attacks on churches, and damage to Christian homes. Thankfully, there have been no reported casualties.

Government Response

The scale of violence compelled the government to take swift action. Additional police forces were deployed, and the army was called in to restore order to the troubled region.

The Allegations

The trouble began when local Muslims claimed to have witnessed Raja Amir and his companion tearing pages from the Quran, throwing them on the ground, and writing insulting remarks on other pages. This incensed the local Muslim community, leading to a gathering that swiftly turned violent.

Mob Violence and Police Intervention

An enraged mob targeted multiple churches and Christian homes, setting furniture and household items ablaze. Frightened members of the Christian community fled their homes to escape the mob’s wrath. Police eventually intervened, using warning shots and batons to disperse the attackers, with the assistance of Muslim clerics and elders. Law enforcement also initiated raids to apprehend the perpetrators, resulting in the arrest of numerous rioters.

Search for Amir

Police Chief Bilal Mehmood confirmed that efforts were underway to locate Raja Amir, who had gone into hiding to evade the mob. Authorities aimed to determine whether Amir had indeed desecrated the Quran.

Videos and Social Media

Videos and images shared on social media depict the violent scenes as the mob descended upon churches, pelting them with bricks and setting them ablaze. In one video, a man is seen climbing to the church’s roof, forcefully removing the steel cross amid cheers from the crowd below.

Christian Community’s Plight

Khalid Mukhtar, a local priest, revealed that most Christians in the area had fled to safer locations, and even his own house had fallen victim to the violence. Mukhtar estimated that the majority of the 17 churches in Jaranwala had been targeted, although authorities had not yet confirmed this figure.

Blame on Loudspeakers

Father Gulshan Barkat, a church history teacher at the National Catholic Institute of Theology in Karachi, dismissed the blasphemy allegations as false accusations. He pointed fingers at local mosques, claiming that loudspeakers on minarets had earlier incited Muslims to gather and “attack the churches and Christian community.”

Law Enforcement’s Priority

Police Chief Rizwan Khan emphasized that their top priority was safeguarding the lives of Christians in the area. Subsequently, additional police forces were deployed, and an investigation was launched to bring all those involved in the attack to justice.

Solidarity and Condemnation

Later in the evening, troops arrived to support the police, while a delegation of Muslim clerics from Lahore expressed solidarity with the Christians in Jaranwala. The incident drew condemnation from national leaders and political parties, with caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar vowing stern action against the culprits.

History of Blasphemy Accusations

Blasphemy accusations have become alarmingly common in Pakistan. Under the country’s blasphemy laws, individuals found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures could face the death penalty. Even mere accusations often result in riots, mob violence, lynching, and killings.

In one of the most notorious attacks on Christians in 2009, a mob burned 60 homes and killed six Christians in Gojra, Punjab, following allegations of insulting Islam.

National Outcry

Wednesday’s attack triggered nationwide outrage, prompting leaders and political parties to condemn the violence. Bishop Azad Marshall, a senior Christian leader, appealed for justice on social media, emphasizing the need for intervention to ensure the safety of all citizens.

International Concern

Domestic and international human rights groups have raised concerns about the frequent use of blasphemy allegations to intimidate religious minorities in Pakistan and settle personal scores. In a harrowing incident in December 2021, a mob in Sialkot district killed a Sri Lankan man and publicly burned his body over blasphemy allegations, highlighting the urgent need for addressing this issue.