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Revision as of 14:44, 18 August 2023

The Jaranwala church arsons occurred on 16 August 2023 in the city of Jaranwala, Pakistan, in which thousands of Muslims engaged in church arsons and Bible desecrations. These included at least a twenty-one Christian churches that were burnt down, as well as the looting and destruction of homes belonging to Christian families. According to the BBC, "police appear to watch on" as this took place.

Events

On 16 August 2023, Muslims claimed that there was an alleged Koran desecration and then proceeeded to engage in church arson, burning a dozen Christian churches of various denominations and attacking two dozen Christian homes.

While this violent rampage occurred, Christians left their churches and homes to flee to the eastern part of Jaranwala city. In the meantime, Muslim rioters looted the churches and houses of the Christians that were burning including stealing "furniture and other belongings".

The Muslim rioters were recorded toppling a Christian cross off of a church steeple. In another video "four other churches are attacked, their windows broken as attackers throw pieces of furniture outside and set them on fire."

Arrests

Two Christian men were arrested by the Punjab Police of Pakistan for the alleged Koran desecration, including Raja Amir.

Rizwan Khan, the regional police chief, claimed that 129 people responsible for the attack on Christian churches and houses belonging to Christian families were arrested. These included members of the far-right group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.

Reactions

US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel stated "We support peaceful freedom of expression and the right to freedom of religion and belief for everybody".

International Christian Concern, a Christian human rights NGO, said that it was "deeply saddened" by the arons and "called on the international community to pressure Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws", which they stated "are often misused to settle personal scores or target religious minorities".

Archbishop Joseph Arshad of the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan stated: "Our places of worship and people are not safe in any way due to this. We demand a transparent investigation into this regrettable incident for the supremacy of law and justice so that a better society is established where religion and harmony are respected."


See also

References

  1. ^ Wright, George (August 16, 2023). "Pakistan: Mob burns churches over blasphemy claims". BBC News.
  2. ^ Chaudhry, Kamran. "Action sought against 21 church burnings in Pakistan - UCA News". Union of Catholic Asian News.
  3. ^ Chaudhry, K.M.; Ahmed, Munir (17 August 2023). "Pakistan arrests 129 Muslims after mob attacks on churches and homes of minority Christians". Yahoo News.
  4. Zulqernain, M. (17 August 2023). "Over 100 arrested for attacks on churches, Christian homes in Pakistan". Rediff.
  5. "US Urges Swift Probe into Church Attack in Pakistan". Eurasia Media. 17 August 2023.
Persecution of Christians in Pakistan
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