How is it that so many Muslims in Pakistan misunderstand what we’re constantly told is a peaceful, tolerant religion? Yet no one ever questions the official government and mainstream media line, despite the ever-growing number of stories like this.
“Muslim Persecution of Christians Escalating in Pakistan,” by Mohshin Habib for the Gatestone Institute, April 9 (thanks to all who sent this in):
In recent years, the Christians of Pakistan have become one of the most vulnerable religious communities in the world. Most of the time, the Pakistani extremists use two common accusations to persecute the Christians: defamatory remarks toward Mohammed, and burning pages of Quran.
Christians in Pakistan, a news site on behalf of the Pakistani Christian community, predicted that the situation is becoming alarming. The site alleges that there are currently many cases being reported of Christians being targeted, but no action to reform or address the problem by any government official.
In a recent incident in Badami Bagh near Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore, Sawan Masih, a Pakistani Christian and two Muslims were quarreling over the drinking of alcohol. Four days later, on March 9, the Muslims accused him of insulting the Prophet Muhammad — in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Iran, under blasphemy laws, an allegation punishable by death.
Police quickly arrested Masih, but a massive mob of 3000 Muslims wanted police to hand “the blasphemer” over to them. The mob attacked the Joseph colony, a poor Christian neighborhood, and burned 180 houses. Two churches were vandalized. The Asian Human Rights Commission stated, “on March 8, during the Friday prayers it was announced through the mosque loud speaker that Masih committed blasphemy by passing remarks against the last prophet of Islam. The police who were already prepared arrested Masih when a crowed attacked the community. In the ensuing incident they beat Masih’s father seriously. The police asked the community to vacate the area, as there were chances of further attacks, totally ignoring their responsibility to protect members of the religious community. The police left the area thereby providing a perfect opportunity for the attackers to return the next day, March 9.” In fear of Muslim reprisals, Christians rapidly fled the area, leaving behind homes and households.