CASE STUDY PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN QUARTER CONSUMED BY FLAMES
August 16, 2023 is a day that “will ever haunt” the Christians of Jaranwala, in Pakistan’s Punjab Province and far beyond. Over 12 hours, within Jaranwala city and nine majority-Christian districts, 26 churches and other places of worship were desecrated, and the homes of more than 80 Christians were burned. Amid reports that the attacks were pre-meditated and drew on extensive intelligence regarding the whereabouts of churches and Christian homes across the region, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan described the attacks as the “worst incident against Christians” in the nation’s history. Early that day, mosques in the area used their loudspeakers to broadcast blasphemy allegations against two Christians, Rocky and Raja Masih, from Jaranwala. The illiterate brothers were accused of desecrating the Qur’an. Torn pages were found in a Christian district of Jaranwala, complete with photographs of the brothers and their contact details. Shortly after, more than a dozen people descended on the brothers’ home. Their sister, Sadia Sahil, stated: “They threatened us, saying they will burn us and our house.” She explained that her husband saved their eight-month- old daughter just before their home was set ablaze. By 8 A.M. that morning, a mob of 2,000 people had gathered and began heading for the town, prompting Christians to flee. Many of the attackers were reportedly from the militant group Tehreek-e-Labbaik. Within an hour, the attackers, armed with guns and explosives, had begun setting fire to churches in the region. Social media buzzed with footage of pews and sacred objects being thrown out of churches, torched, and smashed. Video clips from a cemetery showed cross-shaped gravestones being smashed. Some local Muslims refused to allow the mob to enter their villages. Prominent resident Nazim Zafar Iqbal called together youth from 238 Pathan
Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar visited Jaranwala to express solidarity with victims. The Punjab government approved compensation of ₹2 million (UK£5,660) to each of the affected families in Jaranwala. The authorities were accused of failure to stop the attacks. The following February, the Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed the authorities’ report on their response to the attack. Chief Justice Qazi Faez said the document was worthy of “being thrown in the bin." Bishop Indrias Rehmat of Faisalabad told ACN of his dismay amid reports of the gradual release of many of the 300 people arrested. He said: “We want justice. The culprits must be brought to justice.” Sources: “Caretaker PM visits Jaranwala, expresses solidarity with Christian families,” Ary News, 21 st August 2023 https:// arynews.tv/caretaker-pm-visits-jaranwala-expresses- solidarity-with-christians/ [accessed 17/07/24] . Persecuted Yet Again (Lahore and London: National Commission for Justice & Peace with Aid to the Church in Need (UK), January 2024). Nasir Iqbal, “SC rejects police report on Jaranwala attacks,” Dawn, 14 th February 2024 https://www.dawn.com/news/1814050 [accessed 21/06/24] . John Pontifex, “Bishop praises Supreme Court’s commitment to justice for Jaranwala victims,” ACN (UK) News, 21 st February 2024 https://acnuk.org/news/pakistan-bishop-praises-supreme-courts- commitment-to-justice-for-jaranwala-victims/ [accessed 05/05/24] . John Pontifex, “Parishioners gather for Mass outside their torched church,” ACN (UK) News, 22 nd August 2023 https:// acnuk.org/news/pakistan-parishioners-gather-for-mass- outside-their-torched-church/ [accessed 05/05/2024] . John Pontifex, “Still no justice for Jaranwala victims – bishop,” ACN (UK) News, 9 th April 2024 https://acnuk.org/news/pakistan-still- no-justice-for-jaranwala-victims-bishop/ [accessed 21/06/24] .
Chak to block the path of the militants. He told the attackers: “You guys go back. Otherwise, the matter will escalate. To reach
the village church, you will have to drop dead bodies, and those dead bodies will not be ours alone.”
In the days that followed, senior politicians, including Pakistan Caretaker Prime
ACN aid for the victims.
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