by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – One year after the devastating Islamic riot against Christians in Jaranwala, Pakistan in August last year, just 12 of the more than 300 people arrested are facing trials, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Islamic-majority Pakistan ranks 7 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Drawing nationwide condemnation, on August 16, 2023, thousands of Muslims attacked the Christian community in Jaranwala, ransacking and looting more than 25 churches and 85 homes. The riot was sparked after two Christian brothers were accused of writing blasphemous content and desecrating the Quran.
While 380 rioters were arrested, only 12 are set to stand trial, Akmal Bhatti, an attorney with Minorities Alliance Pakistan told MSN. “A majority of the suspects have either been bailed out or were discharged from the cases due to defective police investigation,” Bhatti said.
“The Jaranwala incident is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan,” Bhatti added. “The government’s failure to bring the perpetrators to justice shows its [lack of] interest in protecting religious minorities from future violence.”
Confirming the lack of justice brought for Jaranwala Christians, Amnesty International reported that of 5,213 suspects, 380 were arrested while 4,833 remained at large. “Of the arrested suspects, 228 were released on bail and 77 others had the charges against them dropped,” Amnesty said in a statement.
“Despite the authorities’ assurances of accountability, the grossly inadequate action has allowed a climate of impunity for the perpetrators of the Jaranwala violence,” Amnesty said.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest Stories from Worthy News
Iran has canceled plans to attack Israel following Donald J. Trump’s victory in the recent U.S. presidential elections, Israeli and Iranian officials say.
Hundreds gathered in the center of Amsterdam Thursday to rally against rising antisemitism after the Dutch capital’s first pogrom since World War Two and an attack on pro-Israel group Christenen voor Israel (‘Christians for Israel’).
The Biden administration is moving forward with a $680 million arms package to Israel, including thousands of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits and hundreds of small-diameter bombs, a U.S. official confirmed Wednesday, as reported by the Financial Times.
A confidential clause in the U.S.-Israel side agreement to the Lebanon ceasefire, known as the “Iranian clause” and reportedly focusing on Iran, was a key element of Israel’s acceptance of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.
The well-known Jewish neighborhood of Hendon in London, England, has been targeted with leaflets containing the words “Every Zionist needs to leave Britain or be slaughtered,” GB News reported on Wednesday, November 27. The message was written in both English and Hebrew.