Hundreds clash in Lahore, Pakistan after a Muslim mob burned the homes of Christians in retaliation for alleged insults against the Prophet Muhammad. Angry Christians took to the streets and fought with police, who were criticized for not doing enough to stop the Muslim mobs.
A Pakistani policeman returns
after firing tear gas towards Christian demonstrators during a protest
against the attack on the homes of members of the Christian community by
Muslim demonstrators in Lahore on March 10, 2013. Christians
demonstrated around Pakistan on March 10 to protest after a Muslim mob
torched more than 100 Christian homes following allegations of
blasphemy. More than 3,000 Muslims rampaged through Joseph Colony, a
Christian area of the eastern city of Lahore, on March 9 after
allegations that a Christian had made derogatory remarks about the
Prophet Mohammed three days earlier.
LAHORE, Pakistan — Hundreds of Christians clashed with police across
Pakistan on Sunday, a day after a Muslim mob burned dozens of homes
owned by members of the minority religious group in retaliation for
alleged insults against Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.
Christians are often the target of Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws, which rights activists say are frequently used to persecute religious minorities or settle personal disputes. Politicians have been reluctant to reform the laws for fear of being attacked by religious radicals, as has happened in the past.
The plight of Pakistan’s other religious minorities, such as Shiite Muslims, Hindus and Ahmadis, has also deepened in recent years as hard-line interpretations of Islam have gained ground and militants have stepped up attacks against groups they oppose. Most Pakistanis are Sunni Muslims.
The latest incident began Friday after a Muslim in the eastern city of Lahore accused a Christian man of blasphemy — an offense punishable by life in prison or even death. A day later, hundreds of angry Muslims rampaged through the Christian neighborhood, burning about 170 houses.
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