In Jaranwala, a city in Pakistani Punjab, 87 Christian homes and 19 churches were vandalized this week in riots over blasphemy charges, police said. “The events that have unfolded are tragic. Such violence can never be justified,” Usman Anwar, the provincial police chief for Punjab state in eastern Pakistan, said on Friday (August 18th).
Hundreds of Muslims, armed with sticks and stones, swept through the alleys of the Christian quarter of Jaranwala, which is on the outskirts of the city of Faisalabad, on Wednesday, forcing Christians to flee. The attack was carried out after a group of religious fanatics accused a family of desecrating the Koran.
The issue of blasphemy is particularly sensitive in Pakistan, where even allegations of insulting Islam unsupported by evidence can result in killings and lynchings. Mr. Anwar said he personally interrogated two Christian brothers accused of defiling the Quran.
Police say another 128 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, into which the provincial government on Thursday announced an investigation.
Churches under police protection
On Friday, 3,200 churches were guarded by police across Punjab to reassure the Christian community, Anwar said, adding that he would visit Jaranwala on Sunday to show his solidarity with Christians. Government and religious leaders have called for calm. Acting Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi expressed solidarity with the Christians, saying they would be compensated for their losses.
Christian groups have staged a number of small protests across the country demanding greater protection. “With this protest, we hope the government realizes that this issue needs to be dealt with harshly and the perpetrators of destruction brought to justice,” Archbishop of Karachi Benny Travas said during a brief gathering.
Christians, who make up about 2% of the population, occupy one of the lowest rungs of Pakistani society and are frequent targets of spurious and unfounded blasphemy allegations.
The independent Pakistan Human Rights Commission has repeatedly noted that blasphemy laws are being used as weapons to target religious minorities and settle blood feuds. According to her, these violent incidents have been steadily increasing for several years.