UPDATE (Pakistan): Intervention required into religious conflict in Pakistan

[RE: UA-214-2005: PAKISTAN: Desecration and destruction of churches and Christian property after blasphemy allegations at Sangla Hills, Pakistan; UP-148-2005: PAKISTAN: Tensions continue to simmer in alleged blasphemy case at Sangla Hills, Pakistan]

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to further update you on the case involving the desecration and destruction of churches and Christian property after blasphemy allegations at Sangla Hills, Pakistan (to see further details please refer to UA-214-2005 and UP-148-2005).

According to the latest information we have received, on 2 December 2005, Islamic Religious groups gathered about three thousand Muslims for their Friday prayer at Jamia Masjid Rizvia, Main Market in Sangla Hill. A number of Islamic scholars, including Pir Mohammad Afzal Qadiri Markazi addressed that gathering. The speakers slated Yousaf Masih, the Christian who is under arrest regarding the allegations of desecrating of the Quran, and passed a resolution demanding that the man be sentenced to death. They called upon Muslims to unite against the Christian community. They demanded the unconditional release of the 88 detained Muslims who allegedly took part in the attack on churches and Christian properties on November 12.

On December 1, twelve Christian students including four girls were severely beaten by Muslim youths on the street while on their way back home. Subsequently, one of the girls, Chanda Munir, fainted on the spot. A few days later, an unidentified man threatened the administrator of the local church over the phone. On December 5, between 9.10 and 10.15pm, six unidentified assailants at Youhanabad in Lahore robbed the residence of several Catholic priests.  The assailants tied up six foreign priests and three students with rope, and robbed them of their cash, mobile phones and other valuable household goods.  A case has been registered against the unknown assailants at the Nishtar police station in Lahore. The police are investigating the incident, however no arrest has been made so far. Security guards have been deployed at the priests’ residence.

We have also received reports that on December 9, the Central Head (Ameer) of International Ahle-Sunnah Organization Pir Mohammed Afzal Qadri announced a countrywide protest against the desecration of the Holy Quran at Sangla Hill. He also directly threatened the Christian community forcing them to remain in their houses out of fear.

Meanwhile, on December 3, the Archbishop of Lahore, Most Rev. Lawrence John Saldanha, in a fax message, informed the government of Punjab about the prevailing situation of Sangla Hill. The Archbishop expressed his extreme concern about the threat by the Muslim leaders. He urged the provincial government to initiate reconciliation efforts with factual information about the incidents with a view to minimise the possible danger of any violence in the name of religion in the panic stricken areas. This, he said, should be arranged before Christmas, as the Christian community is in a vulnerable position. The Archbishop requested the government to release the report of the Judicial Inquiry in public within the shortest possible time frame. In his letter he also urged the government to repeal the blasphemy laws.

On December 12, the representatives of eight different minority communities held a meeting to monitor the situation regarding this issue. The representatives found that the incident of attacking the churches in Sangla Hill was merely one manifestation of the alarming level of religious intolerance prevailing in the country being fueled by hate speech and discriminatory laws. Criticising the slow pace of judicial inquiry and the abuses of blasphemy laws taking place in Pakistan they made some resolutions in the meeting. The meeting urged the government to repeal the Blasphemy laws and demanded the release of all innocent people, including Yousuf Masih. They also called upon the authority to apprehend the instigators of the mob without any delay who were responsible for abusing religion and law at Sangla Hill.

Moreover, we have received reports that the authorities of Pakistan are not admitting the facts and are rather protecting the instigators of mob violence. The Judicial Inquiry is being made ineffective through procedural delays and causing the loss of vital evidence to the offences. The authorities are hiding the facts by concealing the extent of the abuse of the blasphemy laws.

In light of this situation, we again call on you to write to the relevant authorities seeking their intervention in this matter. The ongoing slow paced investigation should be speedily conducted into the initial violence that occurred at Sangla Hill. The repeated threat from the Muslim scholars upon the Christian community must be stopped immediately. Full compensation must be provided to the Christian community so that they can repair and rebuild any damaged property. All responsible persons must be charged and brought before a court of law. In regard to religious tolerance it is the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan to ensure that religious minorities are protected against intimidation and threats. Thus, please ask the Pakistan government to introduce legislation that will ensure that religious minorities are protected and treated fairly. A step towards achieving this would be to repeal the discriminatory laws against ethnic minorities.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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