Thousands of Muslims burn Christian churches, convents, schools and homes in Pakistan

Asia News ^ | November 13, 2005 | Qaiser Felix

[NYer]

The Justice and Peace Commission accuses the police of “criminal negligence” because they did not intervene, and also criticizes ministers and politicians for not scrapping the blasphemy law.

Lahore (AsiaNews) – Three churches, a nuns‘ convent, two Catholic schools, the houses of a Protestant pastor and of a parish priest, a girls’ hostel, some Christian homes, were first vandalized and then set on fire by an angry crowd of around 2,000 people in the village of Sangla Hill, Nankana district in Punjab. At least 450 Christian families fled from the village and they have not yet returned for fear of further violence.

Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, Archbishop of Lahore Archdiocese and Chairman National Commission for Justice and Peace (see photo), told AsiaNews that “the attack seems to have been planned and organized as the attackers were brought to the site in buses and instigated to commit violence and arson. It gave our people a lot of fear and anxiety but we hope the government will do something.

The violence took place yesterday at around 10am (local time) and was apparently motivated by the latest blasphemy case. On Friday 11 November, a Christian Yousaf Masih, allegedly burned some copies of the Koran and disappeared. One of his brothers, Salim Masih was arrested the day before. The Commission of Justice and Peace in Lahore said the blasphemy accusations were false: the accusers had economic problems to sort out with the families they accused.

Even Saqib Sohail Bhatti, a Christian general councillor of Sangla Hill told AsiaNews the accusations were false: Yousaf Masih is an illiterate person and has cannot distinguish the Koran from any other book.

Religious leaders are at least partly responsible for provoking the violence: yesterday, in mosques, they called the faithful to gather outside the Jamia Madni Masjid, the central mosque, where they urged them to act against Christians. In fiery speeches, the leaders provoked the mob to set to fire each and every Christian place of worship.

Carrying out these orders, the crowd first sacked the house of Yousaf Masih and later his brother’s. Then they headed for the Presbyterian Church, setting the building, books and the house of the local pastor, Tajamal Perveiz, on fire. The enraged group then went to the Catholic Church of Holy Spirit and adjacent nun’s convent and vandalized them as well as the residence of Fr Semson Dilawar, parish priest of Sangla Hill parish.

The crowd of some 2,000 Muslims also caused severe damage to the Saint Anthony primary and High Schools, destroying its furniture, record, laboratories and library.

The Church of the Salvation Army was also damaged.

A Christian MP, Akram Gill, pointed a finger at the police: he telephoned the forces of order to call for protection for Christians but got no help. Anwar Sohail, who also witnessed the incidents, told AsiaNews that “police were there when the mob came to attack the Catholic Church but they fled away and let the protesters enter the Church”.

The Justice and Peace Commission issued a statement saying that “the local police seem to be party in this act of terror and using religion for hatred against the religious minorities”. Thus, “an immediate judicial inquiry should be made called to establish the causes, effects, and responsibility of these shameful incidents. Moreover, a strict action should be taken against the policemen for their criminal negligence.”

The statement said the “blasphemy laws are main sources and tools for creating social, sectarian and inter-religious disharmony in the country. It is negligence on the part of the ministries, department responsible, who allow the misuse at such a large scale causing huge amount of injustice.” The Commission therefore calls on the government to “take affirmative steps to educate masses about tolerance and peace, remove religious biases in the syllabus and media policy and repeal discriminatory laws.”

Justice and Peace recalled that many Christian organizations are working alongside other Pakistanis to deliver aid to earthquake survivors. “At a time when we need solidarity from all over the world, this lawlessness is a bad news for the country.

[antaresequity]

Why can't the Islamics just chill?

That is a rhetorical question, right?

[Mr. Mojo]

Yup.

[Alexander Rubin]

I'd like to see some justice, but I'm not holding my breath.

[MeanWestTexan]

The list of people who hate the Holy Spirit in Christians is endless.

That hatred --- and the source of their hatred --- explains their irrational behavior, actually.

I mean, burning down a Salvation Army outlet?

Really, only one deep-seated reason to do that.

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[Squeako]

Orcs just doing what they do.

[eeriegeno]

As long as the Muslims are allowed to behave like animals they will continue, century after century. Appeasement fails, reason is impossible and only massive pain will stop the vermin.

I am afraid that you may be right!

I liked the good old days, before we got our education on mid-eastern culture, when a muslim was a fanatic on the other side of the planet......

[Cronos]

A Key U.S. ally : Paki-land.

[Cronos]

They're asking for a modern day Crusade......

They've been asking for one for a long, looong time, but it hasn't been delivered. One thing the real Crusades should remind us is that when the non-slammie world unites and stands up against this disease, it retreats. However, the previous Crusades didn't go far enough and faltered too quickly. Let's not make the same mistake.

[Mr. Mojo]

Like Saudi Arabia, the majority of the population of this particular "ally" both hopes for and actively seeks the destuction of the U.S. and Western Civilization. With "allies" like that, ......

[Cronos]

Catholic Relief Services called two nights ago for my donation to Pakistan earthquake relief. This is the first time I have ever said, "No."

Good on you. Let the Saudia's give their petro-dollars. I was reading that in India, the Indians are saying they've lost so many lives and so much money trying to make the KAshmiri's happy, but the K's kick them in the teeth over and over again yet now the Ks want the indians to give them money. Typical...

[Cronos]

A small correction:

Islam isn't compatible with Christianity humanity

[Cronos]

Good on you. The slammies take our aid and then curse us. At least when money went to Sri Lanka the Sri Lankans said thank you, the Indonesians cursed America.

[Fred Nerks]

A Key U.S. ally : Paki-land...

With a famous cricketer waiting in the islamofascist wings, no less.

[B-Chan]

Folks, the War on Islamic Fascism is no more morally complex than was the War on German, Italian, and Japanese Fascism. The lines are clear-cut: oppressors, bigots, and throatcutters vs. the civilized people of the world. And yet many otherwise sane people in the civilized world still take the side of the oppressors, bigots, and throatcutters against our side. Why? Because they hate George W. Bush, rich people, and the Christian religion more than they hate the oppressors, bigots, and throatcutters. The same people that preach peace, love, and tolerance hate the people who are fighting to preserve peace, love, and tolerance. The same people who claim to believe in free thought, free expression, and free speech waste no time in supporting the dictators, thought police, and bookburners of the world. I shall never understand it.

I am far from being the president's biggest fan. In fact, I only voted for him (twice) because he represented the lesser of two evils. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat and I have precisely zero loyalty to the President on the basis of his party affiliation. I think President Bush is 100% wrong on many issues, chief among them immigration, and I make no secret of that fact. But this whole we-hate-W madness has got to stop. Saying "I hate George W. Bush because he is a rich, white Christian" in 2005 makes as much sense as saying "I hate FDR because he is a rich, white Christian" would have in 1945. If I had been alive during the World War II years I would have been FDR's greatest supporter, not because I agreed with him politically but because he was the leader of the forces that were fighting evil. As in World War II, we Americans must again put idiotic political issues aside and recognize that President Bush is the commander-in-chief and we are at war with a global army of evil.

And the throatcutters of 2005 are evil, just as the Jew-burners of 1945 were evil. It baffles me how anyone could be so morally blind as to even question that.

Yet people do.

[ottersnot]

I'm guessing these numbers are low.
Pakistan is a hell hole.

[moog]

While I sometimes think JF and WND go off the deep end at times, I do appreciate his bringing attention to the plight of Christians around the world. They are the "true" ones out there. We need to think about them as we sit in our comfortable spaces and complain. (this is chiefly in reference to me)

[moog]

I know Christ said love your enemies and do well by those who wish you harm, but I'm sorry, I can't.

There is such thing as righteous anger. Jesus did not have much sympathy for the Jewish bureaucrats. He also cast out the moneychangers.

[Wil H]

Thousands of Muslims burn Christian churches, convents, schools and homes in Pakistan

..But don't you DARE flush a Koran down a toilet....

[American in Israel]

This kind of behavior towards Christian pilgrims is what caused the first Crusades

No, actually it was that kind of behavior towards the Christan inhabitants of the lands the Muslim Horde invaded that caused the Crusades. It seems the Muzzie's did not learn the last time, and it also seems nether did we. They're back, and we invited them this time.