Mob Burns Churches over Desecration of Holy Quran in Pakistan
Thousands of Muslims in a city in Pakistan have set fire to at least four churches and vandalised the homes of Christians over claims that two men desecrated the Quran.
Residents said up to a dozen buildings connected to churches in Jariwala, in eastern Punjab, were also damaged.
Police have detained more than 100 protestors and launched an investigation into the violence.
Two years ago, a Sri Lankan man accused of blasphemy was killed by an enraged mob and had his body set on fire.
In 2009, a mob burned down about 60 homes and killed six people in the Gorja district in Punjab, after accusing them of insulting Islam.
A 19th century law punishing blasphemy was instituted by the British in colonial times.
But in the 1980s, authorities introduced stricter punishments for breaking the law, including a death sentence for anyone who insults Islam.
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Around 96% of Pakistan’s population is Muslim. Other countries, including Iran, Brunei, and Mauritania also impose capital punishment for insulting religion involvement.
Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the rampage. “There is no place for violence in any religion.”
A senior Christian leader, Bishop Azad Marshall, appealed for help on social media and said he was “deeply pained and distressed.”
“We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom,” he posted on X (Formally known as X).
In the southern port city of Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, dozens of Christians rallied to denounce the attacks in Jaranwala.
Domestic and international human rights groups say blasphemy allegations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities in Pakistan and settle personal scores.
