Mob Violence Against Christians in Pakistan Result In Nationwide Condemnation of Extremism

Jakarta, Indonesia - Last week, Pakistan was plagued with mob violence incited by alleged blasphemy by two Christian individuals. This mob violence involved the ransacking and destroying Churches, houses, and even graveyards owned by Christians around the city of Jaranwala.

The accusation of blasphemy was reportedly caused by the finding of tattered pages of the Qur’an with remarks insulting Islam contained in some of the pages. Reportedly, a Christian man was alleged to be responsible for this blasphemy.

“We were sitting at home when suddenly we heard a mob was coming and it is burning homes and attacking churches.” Told a Christian woman to the Associated Press (AP), not understanding why an unrelated blasphemy accusation could be blamed on an entire community of minorities. (18/08/23)

With the unsafe situation in Jaranwala, many Christian Pakistanis fled to safer areas, with many opting to leave their former homes. Although some have begun returning to Jaranwala and reoccupying their homes, many will not be able to go back to a home as the damage caused by the mob destroyed much of Christian owned property.

This has sparked a response from the government of Pakistan, with caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar visiting Jaranwala and handing out 2 million Pakistani Rupees to families affected by the mob violence. The caretaker Prime Minister was quick to denounce the mob and offer his support for the Christian minority community’s right to simply exist.

“We are with you, we will be the voice of the voiceless. We will enforce the law and you will find that the state and society do not only offer you verbally, but also to stand by with concrete and meaningful gestures" Said the caretaker Prime Minister in a statement, reported on by the Agenzia Fides.

In a show of national unity and harmony, the Archbishop of Lahore, The Most Reverend Sebastian Shaw, visited the city with Muslim religious leaders who condemned the mob violence, urging the faithful affected by the violence to seek patience and unite their sufferings with God.

“What we saw is a terrible devastation that moved us very much. People are shocked and desperate, they have nothing left. It is up to us to offer a touch of consolation by being witnesses of Jesus' love. We need human closeness, psychological and material help, and we are organising all possible help through Caritas, but also through volunteers and various religious communities. I have told the Christians that they are not alone in this suffering, Jesus is with them and we are with them, we are interested and we will take care of them" Said the Archbishop, offering his support to those affected by the mob initiated persecution.

Blasphemy in Pakistan carries the death penalty, though the government has never officially carried them out. Deaths caused by mob violence in response to accusations of blasphemy have been common however, affecting Christians and other religious minorities in the country.

Unfortunately, some in the country has used blasphemy laws to frame members of religious minorities that they have personal disagreements with, such as the case with Asia Bibi, a Christian mother who was framed for blasphemy due to a dispute regarding access to water wells. She was arrested and the court ruled death penalty be the punishment, however was freed in 2018 after the Pakistani Supreme Court acquitted her of all accusations of blasphemy.

There are many more similar cases garnering less attention, and although a lot of the charges are thrown out at court, the societal consequences and potential for mob violence that those accused of blasphemy could face is still very real and certainly very, very dangerous.

It is possible that the recent moves towards religious tolerance from the Pakistani Government would allow Pakistan to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring the rights of religious minorities, taking decisive action to end mob violence and protect the persecuted by making stricter regulations on mob “justice.”

Image source: Arab News