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PAKISTAN
Christian
community
devastated by
mob violence
Christians in the Pakistan city
of Jaranwala are still coming
to terms with a series of
devastating attacks on homes and
churches in August. News of the riots
quickly spread around the world.
According to Morning Star News
(MSN), the rioting began after
Muslim residents of Cinema Chowk
in Jaranwala, Faisalabad District,
accused Umar Saleem, known as
Rocky, of desecrating pages of the
Koran and writing blasphemous
comments.
Ruthless attacks in Jaranwala, Pakistan, in
August left churches gutted and Christian
homes burnt down, writes Laura Hayes
A relative said Rocky was leaving
for work when he saw a piece of
paper with something written in red
ink pasted on the door of a Muslim
neighbour.
‘When he went closer to read it, he was
shocked to see a photograph of him
and his younger brother Umair, alias
Raja, pasted on top of the page,’ the
relative told MSN. ‘Beneath the page
were some partially burnt pages of
the Koran inscribed with derogatory
remarks about Islam and Mohammed.’
The source said Rocky, father of a
three-month-old son, panicked and
removed the pages from the door. As
if on cue, two Muslims pounced on
him and snatched the pages, accusing
him of blasphemy.
‘The allegation is ridiculous – who
would name himself and his brother
as the writers of the note and also put
their photo on it?’ the relative said.
‘Someone has framed them to exact
revenge.’
Rocky, aged 24, works as a cleaner at
a textile factory, while Raja, 21, works
at a local government school. They
are both members of a Full Gospel
Assemblies Church.
A case was registered against the
two Christians under Sections