Pakistan: Report on violence against Christians released

Data has emerged from a study conducted by the Christian Study Center in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference. A list was compiled of the most recent serious incidents of 2009 of alleged "blasphemy" on the part of Christians in the Muslim-dominated country.

June 30, 2009; Bahmniwala, Kasur (Punjab): More than 110 Christian families, accused of blasphemy have been forced to flee their homes for fear of attacks by Muslims from nearby villages. Apparently the tension began with a skirmish between young Christians and Muslims, then degenerated into religious violence.

July 30, 2009; Korian, Gojra (Punjab): During a wedding, nearly 40 proprietors and Christian families accused of violating the law on blasphemy, are attacked by arsonists.

August 1, 2009; Gojra (Punjab): an angry mob besieged the residential area and set fire to Christians homes and persons accused of blasphemy. Nine women and children, unable to flee or hide, were burned alive. The perpetrators were from a militant organization now banned by the government. Circumstantial evidence have highlighted the "cover-up" role played by the local administration.

September 15, 2009; Jethike, Sialkot (Punjab): the body of a young Christian, Robert Fanish Masih, was found hanged in a prison. According to the police it was suicide. The boy had been arrested a few days earlier on charges of blasphemy. Signs of torture and numerous injuries have placed the official version in doubt.

The articles of the Pakistani Penal Code that make up the "blasphemy law" were introduced between 1980 and 1986 by the then President of Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq, to ensure respect for the prophet Muhammad and the Koran.

From 1986 to October 2009, at least 966 people ended up charged with blasphemy law: 50% Muslims, 35 Ahmadis%, 13% Christian, 1% Hindu and 1% unspecified religion. At least 33 people were victims of murder after the prosecution: 15 Muslims, 15 Christians, 2 Ahmadis and 1 Hindu. The law is used indiscriminately to target non-Muslim citizens in disputes over property, money, and hostilities of all kinds. The number of victims is high even among the Muslims, as several militant Islamic groups use it to attack one another.