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| Mosque announcements to protest alleged blasphemy |
In a troubling development, Christians in Pakistan are facing yet another accusation of blasphemy, prompting fear and flight from their homes. This marks the third incident within a month, raising concerns about the safety and security of the Christian community in the eastern city of Sargodha. The recent accusation has led to protests and threats of violence from Muslim crowds, including members of Islamic extremist groups.
The tension escalated on Sunday, July 16, when mosque announcements in Sargodha urged people to protest against posters allegedly displaying derogatory caricatures and comments about Prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha. These posters were found pasted on the walls of a mosque in Green Town, which is adjacent to the Christian settlement of Maryam Town.
According to former provincial lawmaker Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, the situation in Sargodha was already tense after the arrests of two Christians on blasphemy charges. However, the appearance of these provocative posters put the entire Christian community at greater risk. Panic spread among the 3,500 to 4,000 Christian families residing in Maryam Town upon hearing the announcements, as they feared potential violence.
Thankfully, the police took swift action, deploying a large contingent at all entry and exit points of the Christian settlement. Nevertheless, the situation remained volatile as hundreds of angry Muslims blocked the main Sargodha-Faisalabad highway, burning tires and obstructing traffic. They demanded the immediate arrest of the alleged offender, an unknown soldier supposedly from Maryam Town, and threatened to take matters into their own hands if their demand wasn't met within 48 hours.
After police registered a case against the unknown offender under Sections 295-A, 295-B, 295-C, and 298-A (related to blasphemy and other offenses), the crowds eventually dispersed. Additionally, a committee of religious leaders was formed to investigate the incident in coordination with the local administration.
Despite these measures, the situation remained precarious, and reports emerged that almost half of the Christian population in the area decided to flee their homes out of fear for their safety. Sanawar Balam, a member of the district's human rights committee, revealed that many Christian families left their homes to avoid potential retribution.
In an alarming turn of events, at least 15 Christian men were taken into custody based solely on their identity cards, which stated Maryam Town as their address. Although they were later released after interrogation, more individuals were apprehended in the following days, with some still in police custody at the time of reporting.
Both Tahir Naveed Chaudhry and Sanawar Balam expressed suspicions about a possible conspiracy against Sargodha's Christians. Chaudhry emphasized that Christians had no objection to a fair investigation to identify the real culprits behind the incident. He and other community leaders urged the police to thoroughly consider all angles during their inquiry.
This is not the first time blasphemy allegations have led to violence and mob attacks on Christian settlements, particularly in Punjab Province. Such incidents have caused death and destruction in the past. Azad Marshall, the Church of Pakistan President, condemned the recent incident and called for stronger measures to protect Christians living in Sargodha. He emphasized that no Christian would commit such an act and highlighted the community's efforts to promote religious harmony and mutual respect for all faiths.
According to statistics from the Lahore-based Center for Social Justice, the number of reported blasphemy cases has seen a worrying increase over the years. In 2022 alone, 171 blasphemy cases were reported, compared to 84 in 2021, 208 in 2020, 36 in 2019, and 61 in 2018. Since 1987, more than 2,120 individuals have been accused of blasphemy, with Punjab Province accounting for over 75 percent of the cases.
The rising tensions and risks faced by Christians in Pakistan have raised international concern. Pakistan currently ranks seventh on Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, indicating the urgent need for measures to protect religious minorities and promote religious freedom in the country.
In conclusion, Christians in Pakistan have once again found themselves in a dangerous and vulnerable position following another accusation of blasphemy. The situation in Sargodha reflects the broader challenges faced by religious minorities in the country. Urgent action is needed to ensure the safety and security of Christians and other religious minorities and to foster an environment of tolerance and coexistence among all communities.
