Mob burns Pakistani churches, vandalises cemetery over blasphemy allegations
Faisalabad, Pakistan – AFP
Hundreds of men set fire to four churches and vandalised a cemetery in eastern Pakistan on Wednesday, officials said, after a Christian family was accused of blasphemy.
The attacks broke out in Faisalabad city after the Christian family was accused of desecrating the Quran.
“There is a stand-off between the police and the crowds. The crowds are not backing down. Police and Rangers have been deployed to control the situation,” Ahad Noor, a district government official, told AFP, referring to a paramilitary force.
Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where anyone deemed to have insulted Islam or Islamic figures can face the death penalty.
A Christian cemetery was also vandalised, as well as the local government office, as crowds demanded action from the authorities.
Rana Imran Jamil, a spokesman for the city’s 1122 rescue service, told AFP that four churches had been set on fire. There were no reports of injuries.
The district government office also said at least four churches had been set alight.
A police report said charges would be filed against two Christian men who have fled the area.
Pakistani bishop Azad Marshall, in the neighbouring city of Lahore, said the Christian community was “deeply pained and distressed” by the events.
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