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November 12, 2005
Pakistan: Muslim Mobs Burn Two Churches, School
A riot broke out in the town of Sangla Hill, 80 miles northeast of Lahore today, after Muslims heard a rumour that a Christian man had desecrated a copy of the Koran, according to WRAL. In the furor that ensued, 1500 Muslims went on the rampage, destroying two churches, one school, a youth hostel and the home of a priest.
The rumour that provoked the animalistc behaviour stated that a Christian man on Friday had burned a mmadrassa and copies of the Koran, according to Ali Asghar Dogar, a police official. He added that the alegations were apparently created by people who had lost money while gambling with the man on Friday.
Despite this, the man has been detained by police who are investigating. To desecrate the Koran in Pakistan can fetch the death penalty in the country's penal statutes. 12 rioters have been arrested.
The head of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, Shahbaz Bhatti, said that no copies of the Koran were burned, and blamed Muslim leaders for using mosque public address systems to incite the mob to attack the churches, one of which was Protestant, and the other Roman Catholic.
The Kuwaiti News Agency states the Christian man, named Yousaf Maseh "sacrileged" the Koran by burning it, quoting a police official. KUNA states that 80 people have been rounded up following the riots.
He (the police official) added that protestors put on fire Presbyterian Church, Catholic Church, Convent Missionary School and its hostel.He said police used tear gas and batons to disperse protestors and arrested around 80 men including Maseh.
He went on to say that heavy police force has been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 12, 2005 11:51 AM
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