several Christian areas of Pakistan where hundreds of homes have reportedly been destroyed by Islamic militants. The Voice Of the Martyrs (VOM) USA told BosNewsLife the attacks happened this week in three areas around the city of Peshawar, about 172 km (107 miles) west of the capital Islamabad.
VOM USA said the troubles began late Tuesday, June 28, just hours after an illiterate Christian man in his 60’s allegedly burned pages with Koranic verses written on them.
The organization claimed the burning incident happened when Yousaf Masih, who worked for almost two decades as a sweeper for the Pakistani military, came across a bag of "rough papers" at the office at a major’s home.
YOUSAF IN DANGER
"The major told Yousaf to take the papers outside and burn them. Yousaf is illiterate, and would have no way of knowing what was written on the papers he had been told to burn. Other workers saw the papers and said that Yousaf was burning pages from the Koran," said VOM USA, which investigates the plight of persecuted Christians.
Insulting Islam, the Prophet Mohammed or the Koran can be punishable with death under Pakistan’s harsh anti-blasphemy laws. Therefore "after hearing [the] accusations [of his co-workers], Yousaf ran away and went to his home in the Lama Veera area of Nowshera, east of Peshawar", the capital of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier province, the organization said. He was later detained by local police, VOM USA added.
Following the arrest a group of angry Muslims allegedly came to the home and began to beat Yousaf’s three sons. Radical Muslims later returned to the area and so far "burnt an estimated total of 200 houses in Lama Veera, CMH and Saran" areas, VOM USA said, citing sources in the regions. There were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
HOUSES LOOTED
"Many houses were looted by members of the mob, who stole TVs, refrigerators and other items. The mob beat Yousaf’s three sons, and his brother, Yaqoob. Police have reportedly arrested 16 people involved in the attacks. A Hindu temple was also attacked, as apparently the mob at first believed Yousaf was a Hindu," the organization said.
The situation remained tense Friday, July 1, and large police forces reportedly surrounded all three areas in an effort to restore order. VOM USA said investigators are "en route to the area, and will evaluate the immediate needs of the Christians there who have lost their homes." It said Christians "are currently in fear of further attacks" in the region.
Christians comprise less than 3 percent of Pakistan’s mainly Islamic population of over 162-million, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates. There has been growing concern about attacks against Christians and churches in Pakistan who are seen by Islamic militants as supportive towards the American-led war on terror, human rights activists say. (With Stefan J. Bos, BosNewsLife Research and reports from Pakistan)
