Over 120 people have been arrested by Pakistan police after a confirmed 19 Christian churches and 87 homes were attacked.
PAKISTAN: 21 Churches set on fire, Bibles burned, 378 homes of Christian civilians destroyed by radical Islamists.
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) August 18, 2023
And the world is silent. Pray for the persecuted minorities in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/ZHzlkyg6yI
The Hindu reported a Muslim mob rioted in the streets over allegations two Christian brothers desecrated the Koran.
Homes and churches were lit on fire in Jaranwala in the Punjab province Wednesday. This forced families to flee and seek refuge with Muslim neighbors who hung Koranic verses on front doors to prevent buildings from being destroyed.
Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar stated, “The events that unfolded were tragic. Violence like this can never be justified.”
Christians are a minority in the area, only making up about 2% of the population. They are considered a lower tier of society and often face allegations of blasphemy.
Anwar noted he questioned the Christian brothers accused of blasphemy in an effort “to avoid accusations of torture.”
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan noted attacks like these “appear to have increased in recent years.”
Religious leaders and government officials in the area have called for peace, and 3,200 churches were protected by the Punjab police Friday.
Anwar noted he plans to visit Jaranwala Sunday as a sign of solidarity.
Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi also declared support, noting the Christians affected will be compensated.
In addition, an inquiry into the violence, and those involved, is currently underway.
