In response to the violent rioting that erupted over allegations of Quran desecration, Pakistani authorities have taken measures to address the aftermath and ensure the safety of affected communities, including Christians. Last week, a Muslim mob wreaked havoc on the city of Jaranwala, targeting Christians and their properties. The alleged desecration of the Quran by Read more
Pastor Rafaqat Yaqoob watched helplessly as laborers removed the cross from the Church of the Nazarene after an angry mob of more than 200 local Muslims surrounded it. “Demolish it. Make them [Christians] flee,” shouted the mob led by a cleric from the local madrasa (Islamic religious school). Pastor Yaqoob called the police. “We used Read more
Violent militancy is on the rise in Pakistan amid an increasing trend of religiosity. While many Pakistani officials have celebrated the growing embrace for adhering to stronger religious ties among the population to unite the country, this increase has actually created further militancy and extremism. This is evidenced by recent attacks from religious extremist cells Read more
When it comes to Christians, news from Pakistan in recent years has seldom been good. An increasingly beleaguered minority in an Islamic republic, they have become targets of harassment and violent attacks, often motivated by tensions and conflicts between Islamists and the West on the world stage. This week, however, brings a notable exception. On Read more
Christians in Karachi stage a protest march over the weekend to condemn the attack on a church. Archbishop Joseph Coutts led the protest which included about 70 priests, nuns and Christian politicians. The marchers carried banners that called for equal rights for Christians in the wake of the attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church on Read more