August 16, 2023
On August 16th, Rampaging Crowd Allegedly Linked to Blasphemy Accusation Vandalizes Multiple Churches in Christian Enclave near Faisalabad.
A Christian enclave in Jaranwala city, near Faisalabad in Punjab province, Pakistan, was thrown into turmoil on August 16th as a large crowd, numbering in the hundreds, stormed the area. Their actions resulted in the vandalization of a reported range of 2 to 8 churches (with some sources of CPRP suggesting the number could be as high as 21) and adjacent structures, all stemming from an alleged blasphemy accusation.
The incident has generated fear and panic throughout the locality, leading to the closure of the local market. Social media has been awash with videos and messages from residents, depicting mobs spurred into action by reports disseminated through mosque loudspeakers. These reports claimed that two local Christian residents, named Rocky Masih and Raja Masih, had desecrated religious scriptures, inciting the mob's outrage.
The two individuals implicated in this incident have been charged under the Pakistan Penal Code. They face accusations of insulting Islam (Section 295-B) and defaming the name of the Prophet Mohammed (Section 295-C). Despite a substantial police presence in the area, the situation escalated as charged crowds moved to assault the Christian enclave. These mobs demanded the immediate execution of the accused men.
Tragically, the unrest has resulted in a mass exodus of Christian residents from the affected colony and neighboring villages, as they flee the potential for further attacks. It's reported that families from over 500 homes have fled from three Christian settlements. Notably, the Salvation Army Church, one of the area's oldest churches, was vandalized and reportedly set on fire, alongside another local church and adjoining buildings.
Extremist organizations, such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik and Khatam-e-Nabuwat, found support in these mobs, as they demanded the execution of the alleged blasphemy offenders. Local residents have expressed their belief that timely police intervention could have prevented the situation's escalation. Subsequent actions by the government included summoning additional police contingents and federal law enforcement to quell the turmoil. In a bid to prevent further attacks, exit and entry points to the city were sealed, and Christian institutions and churches in nearby cities were temporarily closed.
The attack showcases the fragility of religious tensions in Pakistan, where the accusation of blasphemy remains an extremely sensitive issue. Such allegations, even if unfounded, can lead to devastating consequences, and minorities, like Christians, often bear the brunt of these conflicts. With Christians constituting around 2% of Pakistan's population, the incident highlights their marginalized position within society and the prevalent threats they face from spurious blasphemy allegations.
