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Posts tagged as “blasphemy”

Mosques probed over protest call in Jaranwala blasphemy attacks

AFP in The News, August 20, 2023LAHORE: A Muslim cleric is among a dozen people being investigated for using mosque loudspeakers to order protests against alleged blasphemy by Christians which erupted into mob violence in Jaranwala earlier this week, a senior police official said. More than 80 Christian homes and 19 churches were vandalised when hundreds rampaged through a Christian neighbourhood in Jaranwala in Punjab province on Wednesday. Reports that a Quran had been desecrated…

Christian brothers arrested for blasphemy

AFP report in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2023FAISALABAD/ ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: Police have arrested two Christian brothers accused of blasphemy, a spokesperson and a source said on Friday, two days after a mob burnt churches and houses, alleging that the two men desecrated the Holy Quran. Pages of the Holy Quran were found in a street with derogatory comments written on them in red, the police said. One attached extra page also carried the names,…

Zero Tolerance

Editorial in The Nation, August 18, 2023The Jaranwala tragedy is yet another grim reminder of the unchecked extremist and communal narratives that are eating away at our social fabric. But this incident, which is the second event in recent days—a teacher in Balochistan was murdered over blasphemy allegations just a few days ago—highlights how this trend is growing out of control and calls for swift and stern measures to address this phenomenon. Our unfortunately rich…

Leaders of minority communities condemn Jaranwala tragedy

by Waqas Ali in Dawn, August 18th, 2023KARACHI: Members of Minority Rights March and Aurat March, the Archbishop of Karachi and the Bishop of the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Thursday condemned the attacks on churches and residences the Christian community members in Jaranwala by an angry mob, following an alleged incident of blasphemy in this town of Faisalabad district. Members of the Christian community also staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC). Addressing…

No sympathy for mob attacks on Christians

Report in Dawn, August 18th, 2023• Army chief vows ‘no leniency’, FO spox decries violence• Amnesty urges Pakistan to prevent misuse of blasphemy laws• NCHR reports 17 churches torched ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Jaranwala tragedy continued to elicit condemnation on Thursday, with national leaders and international organisations calling for justice for the people whose homes and places of worship were ransacked and destroyed by a frenzied mob. Speaking at an ISPR event, army chief Gen Asim Munir…

Leaders of minority communities condemn Jaranwala tragedy

by Waqas Ali in Dawn, August 18th, 2023KARACHI: Members of Minority Rights March and Aurat March, the Archbishop of Karachi and the Bishop of the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Thursday condemned the attacks on churches and residences the Christian community members in Jaranwala by an angry mob, following an alleged incident of blasphemy in this town of Faisalabad district. Members of the Christian community also staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC). Addressing…

No sympathy for mob attacks on Christians

Report in Dawn, August 18th, 2023• Army chief vows ‘no leniency’, FO spox decries violence• Amnesty urges Pakistan to prevent misuse of blasphemy laws• NCHR reports 17 churches torched ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Jaranwala tragedy continued to elicit condemnation on Thursday, with national leaders and international organisations calling for justice for the people whose homes and places of worship were ransacked and destroyed by a frenzied mob. Speaking at an ISPR event, army chief Gen Asim Munir…

Another Tragedy

Editorial in The Nation, Aug 17, 2023Yet again, a tragedy has taken place as an enraged mob vandalised multiple churches in the Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad over allegations of blasphemy. The impunity with which these acts are carried out in the presence of law enforcement personnel shows that these mobs and extremist groups have only grown stronger with conviction, and that is not without the state’s help. Condemnations and vows to hold the culprits accountable…