Burned churches might be part of hate campaign against Christians

Wednesday, August 16, early in the morning: In a poor Christian neighborhood in Jaranwala, an industrial area near the city of Faisalabad in Pakistan, panic is spreading. The loudspeaker in the mosque shouts that two Christian youths have desecrated the Koran. It is claimed that some Koran pages were found outside their house. Rumors spread, anger grows. 

Armed with sticks, iron bars, matches and highly combustible material, the mob set fire to churches and houses. The crowd calls for the gallows for the two brothers. No one has proof, only allegations. People from 500 Christian families flee into the fields to hide and save their lives. 

A few hours later, 25 churches in three villages are destroyed or burned. In Christian homes, everything is destroyed before the houses have been set on fire. 91 houses are totally destroyed. Those who started the burning of churches came from other villages, concludes the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. The Commission states that local Muslim leaders were complicit in the attacks. The Commission demonstrates that because of the rumours and allegations that a Christian was responsible for blasphemy, a series of shouts came over the loudspeakers of the mosque: the mobilization shouts from the mosque caused "thousands of men" to gather and attack Christian churches and homes, the Commission writes. 

The Commission cannot rule out the possibility that this was a planned and not a spontaneous act of violence. They do not disregard the possibility that the mob attack may be part of a larger hate campaign directed against Christians in Pakistan, writes the Christian Pakistani online newspaper Kross Connection. The Commission also writes that videos made during the attacks at various locations in Jaranwala show members of a religious political party inciting people to violence.

Christian protests after attacks 

In the following days, Christians in both Lahore and Karachi held demonstrations to protest against the horrific attack. 

The two Christian brothers were arrested. They are charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and face long sentences. Over 100 of the mob were arrested. We do not know what will happen to them.  Local and central governments have condemned the violence. 

- Unfortunately, the measures often stop with a condemnation and then nothing more happens," says Sajid Christopher of the Human Friends Organization (HFO), which Stefanus Alliance supports. 

He demands changes to the blasphemy law - to prevent abuse of the law to attack churches and Christian neighborhoods. Christopher also demands that Christian police officers be included in police forces that will protect Christian neighborhoods. In addition, he demands that this time the government crack down so hard on those responsible that "no one dares to attack Christian neighborhoods again". 

Vandalization of church in Jaranwala - furniture is thrown out from the second floor. Later the church was set on fire. Photo: HFO 

Police arrested a large group of the mob that attacked and burned down the Christian neighborhood of Joseph's Colony in Lahore in 2013. 

- But they were all released after a few days. No one was punished. I'm afraid the same thing will happen again. That the two people accused of blasphemy will remain in prison, while no one is punished for the vandalism. This will lead to such tragedies happening again and again. This case must be an important wake-up call for the authorities so that it does not happen again," says Christopher. 

Human Friends Organization (HFO) has documented what happened. HFO is now in the process of distributing aid to the victims. HFO is also planning to help rebuild homes and churches," says Sajid Christopher. 

Facts on Blasphemy in Pakistan: 

• Section 295-B of the Penal Code prohibits insulting Islam. 
• Section 295-C prohibits insulting the Prophet Muhammad. 
• Minimum penalty ten years imprisonment. Risk of death penalty.