ON August 16, 2023, thousands of angry Muslims rioted through five Christian neighborhoods in the Pakistani city of Jaranwala. The rioters smashed windows and doors and threw out refrigerators, sofas, chairs, and other household items to burn in front of churches. At least eight churches were destroyed along with many homes burned down.
According to local authorities, just before the riots, torn pages of the Koran with blasphemous texts scrawled were found near a Christian community. Pakistan’s interim Prime Minister Anwar ul-Haq Kakar condemned the violence and called for swift action against those responsible.
The following day, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) partner Anjum visited the attacked Christian quarters. He was shocked: ”Burned, looted houses are everywhere. All the Christians have fled. Nobody stayed behind.”
In Pakistan, blasphemy against Islam carries the death sentence. CSI is providing aid to the displaced Christians through their local partners.
