Yesterday, 16th August, Islamists in Pakistan’s Jaranwala district targeted Christians on blasphemy charges. After a Christian citizen, Saleem Masih, was accused of blasphemy against the Quran, the majority Muslim community attacked the minority Christian community and vandalized churches in the neighbourhood.
The three churches vandalized are the Salvation Army Church, the United Presbyterian Church, and the Allied Foundation Church which are situated in the Isa Nagri area of Jaranwala
Here is Bishop Azad Marshall’s tweet:
“Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been tortured and harrased having been falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran. 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.”
Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been… pic.twitter.com/xruE83NPXL
— Bishop Azad Marshall (@BishopAzadM) August 16, 2023
And here is another comment of a social media user, with a video showing the Islamic mob while attacking a Church:
Pakistani Muslim extremists chant religious slogans Labaik Ya Rasool Allah لبیک یا رسول الل as they burn down a #Churches
— Faraz Pervaiz (@FarazPervaiz3) August 16, 2023
Attacks come after local Muslims accused a Christian family of #blasphemy. Such pro-blasphemy brigades in #Pakistan are known to have state-backing.
The… pic.twitter.com/g94H88PVB8
This is the real face of Islamic Republic of #Pakistan, a country of extremists and terrorists.
— Faraz Pervaiz (@FarazPervaiz3) August 16, 2023
A local #Christian family in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, Punjab has been accused of #blasphemy by local Muslims. Now local Muslims have attacked a #church and are destroying it. pic.twitter.com/DxEamRiVhC
More other shocking videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, showing enraged Muslims assaulting an already marginalized minority. According to one news report, the latter are fleeing their homes in an attempt to save their lives from the bloodthirsty crowd. It went on to say that the situation in the neighborhood remained tense.
Just In: A #Muslim mob in #Jaranwala, #Faisalabad district is attacking homes in #ChristianColony after a local was accused of desecrating the Quran. Sources say the situation is very tense in the area and several Christians have fled their homes. pic.twitter.com/bilYzuh6rX
— Kross Konnection (@kkmediapk) August 16, 2023
Despite the large presence of Muslim agitators, fire and smoke can be seen coming from Jaranwala’s oldest church.
The church has been torched. #Jaranwala #Pakistan #blasphemy pic.twitter.com/TZ6HkHSWhy
— Faraz Pervaiz (@FarazPervaiz3) August 16, 2023
The enraged Muslim mob is threatening to burn down Christian homes under the guise of blasphemy. Police are on the scene, but the situation is extremely volatile. Extremists are seriously attacking Christians, their places of worship, and their property.
August 16,2023 #Christian are attacked by charged Islamic Mob in.#jaranwala. #blasphemy pic.twitter.com/0zDw2g0Dza
— Faraz Pervaiz (@FarazPervaiz3) August 16, 2023
It is important to note that Pakistan’s treatment of its minorities, particularly Hindus, is already under scrutiny and has been heavily criticized in numerous international reports. Extremists in Pakistan are also notorious for inciting communal passions in the name of blasphemy and targeting minorities, including Hindus and Christians. This oppression, masked by blasphemy accusations, has become a hallmark of Pakistan, where mob attacks on minorities have become routine, often aided and abetted by the legal systems and people in positions of power and authority in the country.
Clearly, the persecutions of Christians, continues.