{"id":990,"date":"2015-05-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-24T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/2015\/05\/25\/lahore-christians-face-further-attack-after-man-accused-of-blasphemy\/"},"modified":"2023-04-30T06:53:01","modified_gmt":"2023-04-30T05:53:01","slug":"lahore-christians-face-further-attack-after-man-accused-of-blasphemy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/lahore-christians-face-further-attack-after-man-accused-of-blasphemy\/","title":{"rendered":"Lahore Christians face further attack after man accused of blasphemy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nMany Christian families have fled Dhoop Sari after threats were made of a second impending attack.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sign our petition (click here)<\/a><\/p>\n

Violent clashes erupted in Dhoop Sari last night (24th May 2015), in a densely populated Christian Colony within Gulshan Ravi, an area of
\nLahore, after a 27 year old Christian man was accused of desecrating a Quran.<\/span><\/p>\n

The accused man was named as Humayun Faisal Masih who worked
\nas a local street sweeper, and he was accused of the blasphemy after Muslim youths allegedly found burnt shreds of the Quran in a pile of garbage he had placed
\nhis swept rubbish into.  The Muslim youth then proceeded to film the garbage that contained the shreds of the Quran and highlighted this desecration
\nvia internet based, social media sites. The youth also started to promulgate the blasphemy through the local community and told a local Imam who gathered
\nhis followers to ‘attack Christian blasphemers,’ via his mosque PA system.<\/p>\n

Enraged Muslims of Samnabad beat Humayan who was badly injured before he was arrested and taken to Gulshan Ravi thana (Gulshan
\nRavi police station) where he was charged under Pakistan’s notorious Blasphemy law – section 295c of the Pakistan Penal Code. Mr Humayan Masih
\nis reported to be mentally unstable and hence this most recent attack has been described by local people as unjust, unwarranted and false. His wife had
\nleft him (two months earlier) and taken their two children with her after he was diagnosed with a mental problem for which he had been receiving regular treatment over the last three years.<\/p>\n

As the news of the desecration spread, a mob of between 600-700 Muslim rioters from the neighbouring communities gathered together and blocked
\nroads, seeking revenge against the desecration of the Quran, shouting ‘kill blaspheming Christians’.  It is believed this pressure resulted
\nin the Police First Incident Report (FIR) containing the serious charge of a blasphemy. Arsonists and looters attacked Christian homes for 4 hours before Police stopped
\nthem.  Local rangers are now protecting the Christian community from a further attack, but have warned that they may not have a force large enough
\nto stop any future mob violence. By the time the original attack was stopped  several homes had already been looted and badly damaged. Local
\nChristian residents of the area also reported that the mob attempted to burn down many further homes and fired guns during their rioting. Threats have been received by the community of a further
\nimpending larger-scale attack. Hundreds of Christians have already fled the area to live with relatives temporarily until the hatred simmers down.  It is expected
\ntheir homes will be looted whilst they are away, a crime that inevitably follows refuge seeking.<\/p>\n

 Ashraf Gill, Youth President of Saint Joseph’s church, said:<\/p>\n

“Muslim rioters came with guns, daggers, hockey sticks and irons, they came with intention to kill or maim.  They have looted our properties and caused serious damage to them. We have done nothing to hurt them so why have they treated us so harshly?  <\/p>\n

He added:<\/p>\n

“Humayan is a poor sweeper, what purpose would he have for desecrating the Quran?  He has been brutally treated for simply undertaking his regular job of street sweeping.  This is a woeful injustice.”<\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n
\nLocal Police prevented the burning of the home  of Humayan Masih and Hazrat Yousaf Church.  However, DIG operations Dr. Haider Ashraf suffered a head injury in doing so, and police deployed in the area had to resort to a baton charge on the protesters. Notably a heavy
\ncontingent of police and rangers has been deployed in the area to make sure there are not more riots.  Most of the Christians who reside in the area
\nhave fled their homes to seek refuge as the situation in the area remains tense.<\/p>\n

Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the BPCA said:<\/p>\n

“This latest false blasphemy allegation and the rioting that ensued after local Muslims were stirred up by hate speech in local mosques, is indicative of the low worth and infidel status of Christians in Pakistan. That a man could face a life or death sentence simply for undertaking his role as a sweeper is a poor indictment of the country’s legal system.  Worse still as a government employee should he not be protected against false accusations such as these and compensated for his losses?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Our officer Mehwish Bhatti has visited the location and is building a list of victims that we can help through this most recent attack. She said:<\/p>\n

“Many victims will need temporary shelter, others will need help with building repairs and help with restoration of lost items.   Innocent Christians now live in fear of another attack and Lahore has almost become a no go area for Christians.  Local Muslims seem to desire reasons to attack Christians and latch onto any allegation, this is an early warning for the future of Christians in the area.”<\/span>
\n
\n
\nPlease help us restore the lives of affected Christians.<\/p>\n

Please pray:<\/p>\n

That peace would be restored to the area once more and that imams would cease to incite Muslims to hatred and violence against Christians
\nFor Humayan Masih’s safety and swift release
\nFor God’s protection for local Christians and for their safe return to the district
\nFor God’s provision that they might repair and make their homes secure again, and replace possessions lost in the looting and fires
\nThat Pakistan’s blasphemy laws would be abolished or amended
\n<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>If you would like to donate towards supporting Lahore Christians then please use these bank details:<\/p>\n

Sort Code: 20-67-90
\nAccount number: 63468976 
\nBank: Barclays
\nRef: Love for Lahore Christians<\/p>\n

Alternatively if you would like donate using PayPal please use the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog, our PayPal email address is: info@britishpakistanichristians.co.uk.<\/p>\n

Any cheques should be made payable to the BPCA to our address: 57 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1XG.<\/p>\n

With your support we hope to change the lives of millions of Christians in Pakistan.<\/span>
\n<\/strong>
\n\"\"
\nDhoop Sari burning
\n<\/strong>
\n
\n\"\"
\n
\nHouses were looted and items thrown across streets.<\/strong>
\n
\n\"\"
\n
\nAttempts to burn homes down were thwarted as local communities put out fires themselves.<\/strong>
\n
\n\"\"
\n
\nMany Christians lost their property in the mob attack.<\/strong>
\n
\n\"\"
\n
\nArson and looting is a common theme for Pakistani Christians.<\/strong>
\n
\n\"\"
\nChristian homes have been left in a destitute state.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nMehwish Bhatti meets with Ashraf Gill President of local Church Youth Association.
\n\"\"
\nPolice with better things to do were protecting the home of Humayan.
\n\"\"
\nHouses were left in a mess.
\n\"\"
\nThis cupboards was raided and gold jewellery stolen worth £700
\n\"\"
\nVisible damage could be seen on vulnerable vacant properties.
\n\"\"
\nStrong gates could not keep out looters or rioters.
\n\"\"
\nDamage and mess everywhere
\n\"\"
\nSo much damage<\/p>\n

\n<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many Christian families have fled Dhoop Sari after threats were made of a second impending attack. Sign our petition (click here) Violent clashes erupted in Dhoop Sari last night (24th May 2015), in a densely populated Christian Colony within Gulshan Ravi, an area of Lahore, after a 27 year old Christian man was accused of desecrating a Quran. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"yoast_head":"\nLahore Christians face further attack after man accused of blasphemy - BACA Full Previous Archive<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/lahore-christians-face-further-attack-after-man-accused-of-blasphemy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lahore Christians face further attack after man accused of blasphemy - BACA Full Previous Archive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Many Christian families have fled Dhoop Sari after threats were made of a second impending attack. Sign our petition (click here) Violent clashes erupted in Dhoop Sari last night (24th May 2015), in a densely populated Christian Colony within Gulshan Ravi, an area of Lahore, after a 27 year old Christian man was accused of desecrating a Quran. 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