The Scorched Earth

Listen to Today's Edition:

A mob attacked a number of churches and homes belonging to Pakistan’s Christian minority this week, following accusations that members of the community had desecrated Islam’s holy book, a blasphemous act in the Muslim-majority country, CNN reported.

The violence took place in the town of Jaranwala in the province of Punjab. It started after police detained two Christian men on charges of “desecrating the holy Quran and abusing the Prophet Mohammed.”

The two men were booked under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

But soon after their detention, an angry Muslim crowd began vandalizing the homes and places of worship of Jaranwala’s Christian community. Officials said some churches, including the town’s Catholic Church and the Pentecostal Church, were set on fire by the mob.

The riots prompted authorities to summon soldiers to restore order. So far, nearly 130 Muslim rioters have been arrested, the Associated Press added.

Government officials and religious leaders condemned the violence, calling it “sad and shameful.” Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar also slammed the riots and vowed that “stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities.”

Pakistan is among the countries where blasphemy is a crime and punishable by death although authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for such an act.

Critics and Pakistan’s religious minorities have often complained that the blasphemy laws have been used to persecute and isolate them from public life.

In 2013, more than 100 Christian homes were set on fire by Muslims in Lahore following the arrest of a young man accused of speaking against Islam’s Prophet Mohammed.

In a separate 2010 incident, a mother of five known as Asia Bibi from Punjab was sentenced to death for blasphemy after being accused of disrespecting Prophet Mohammed.

Bibi was released from death row in 2018 following a successful appeal against her conviction and death sentence.