Christian Family Burned to Death in Pakistan After Koran is 'Defiled'
Monday , August 03, 2009


Paramilitary troops patrolled the streets of a town in eastern Pakistan yesterday after Muslim radicals burned to death eight members of a Christian family, raising fears of violence spreading to other areas.

Hundreds of armed supporters of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an outlawed Islamic militant group, burned dozens of Christian homes in Gojra over the weekend after allegations that a copy of the Koran had been defiled.

The mob opened fire indiscriminately, threw petrol bombs and looted houses as thousands of frightened Christians ran for safety. “They were shouting anti-Christian slogans and attacked our houses,” Rafiq Masih, a resident of the predominantly Christian colony, said. Residents said that police stood aside while the mob went on the rampage. “We kept begging for protection, but police did not take action,” Mr Masih said.

Police and local officials said that at least eight people, including four women and a child, were killed in the fires. Two others died of gunshot wounds. Residents said that the casualties were much higher; one claimed that the number of dead could be in the dozens as many bodies were still buried under the rubble. Shahbaz Bhatti, the Minister for Minorities, said that 40 Christian homes were torched in rioting. He said there was no truth to allegations that a Koran had been defiled, and accused the police of ignoring his appeal to provide protection to Christians.

Tension started mounting last week after Muslims accused three Christian youths of burning a copy of the Koran. They denied the allegations, but clerics called for their death. On Saturday, hundreds of supporters of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an outlawed Sunni sectarian group, poured into the town from surrounding districts. The group is believed to have close links with Al Qaeda and has been involved in several terrorist attacks targeting security forces in recent years.

Television footage showed armed men running through the streets, gunfire, and women and children wailing. Blackened furniture lay outside burning homes, while a group of people rushed a man suffering from burns on a cart through the streets. Rehman Malik, the Interior Minister, said that the paramilitary troops were sent after police and the local administration failed to control the situation. Security forces were also placed on high alert to prevent violence from spreading to other towns of Punjab.

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Will the UN be stepping in to defend victims of genocide?

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I wouldn't want to be a Christian living in a Muslim country.  While *most* of the Muslims there would leave you at peace, no one, but no one can seem to control these extremist Islamists.  And their Islamic governments to next to nothing to help.

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I wouldn't want to be a Christian living in a Muslim country.  While *most* of the Muslims there would leave you at peace, no one, but no one can seem to control these extremist Islamists.  And their Islamic governments to next to nothing to help.

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Moving seems to be a good idea.

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...if your government allows you to arm yourself...

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Apparently the local Police intentionally did nothing to stop the perps here.

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Too bad, should not have been in the muslim shit hole anyways, infidels need to wake the fuck up.

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My unfoulable and unproveable god says that you worship a differing unfoulable and unproveable god, this angers his ego. Bring on the fire bombs and 7.62.

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Many Christians in Muslim dominated areas have been there well BEFORE Islam even existed. Islam dates from 700AD. Christianity has been around since well before that. Some communities date back to the time when Christ walked the Earth.

I'd say they have a right to be there, as much as anyone else.

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Many Christians in Muslim dominated areas have been there well BEFORE Islam even existed. Islam dates from 700AD. Christianity has been around since well before that. Some communities date back to the time when Christ walked the Earth.

I'd say they have a right to be there, as much as anyone else.

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Where is this supposed defiled koran

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In this instance, " Situation Awareness " failed. They may have been there for generations and they may have had the right to be there, but that right does not guarantee them to live there safely, Pakistan is largely a lawless country outside of the major cities, many wacko factions roam unimpeded. I stand by my original post.

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Agreed, but where would they go? India would be the only way out, all other borders are muslim countries. And the borders between pakistan and India are very tight because of past and current hostilities. India is mostly Hindu and Muslim anyway. Now, at least, they cold apply for aylum in the US perhaps, because of persecution. But would our Hilary-led State department let them in.

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Agreed, but where would they go? India would be the only way out, all other borders are muslim countries. And the borders between pakistan and India are very tight because of past and current hostilities. India is mostly Hindu and Muslim anyway. Now, at least, they cold apply for aylum in the US perhaps, because of persecution. But would our Hilary-led State department let them in.

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What; Obama doesnt have shit to say?

amazing...

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He's silently applauding them for their actions.

HH

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Religion of peace strikes again!

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Nailed it!!

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Same thing will be happening in Western Europe in the next 20 years.

Mark it down.

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Looks like tolerance for Muslims is a one-way street.