Muslim clerics in Pakistan call for public hanging of the Christian accused of desecrating Koran

Islamabad, Pakistan – In the wake of the controversy surrounding the alleged burning of a Koran by a Christian, militant Islamists in Pakistan have called for the elimination of Christians and the public hanging of the Christian accused of blasphemy.

According to a human rights agency, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Islamic leaders converged at the Jamia Mosque in Sangla Hill on December 2, urging the 3,000 Muslims who had gathered for Friday prayers, to kill every Christian within sight. They also passed a resolution demanding that Yousaf Masih, a Christian accused of desecrating the Koran, be publicly hanged.

Recently, Pakistan witnessed the worst outbreak of anti–Christian violence since 2002 when the Muslims went on a rampage, destroying three churches, a convent and several Christian homes.

According to CSW, a December 2 report by the Catholic Church's National Commission for Justice and Peace stated that the speakers also demanded the unconditional release of the 88 Muslims who have been detained by the Pakistani authorities and accused of carrying out the anti–Christian attacks on November 12.

On December 9, more than 2,500 Muslims again gathered at Friday prayers to repeat their demands for violence and the release of the 88 accused of attacking Christians and their property.

On December 4, the National Commission for Justice and Peace convened a National Consultation meeting on "Ending Religious Intolerance." The conference in Lahore brought together religious and civil society leaders from around the country, including representatives of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, the Christian Study Centre, the Commission for Peace and Human Development and the Centre of Legal Assistance and Settlement.

The consultation resulted in a joint resolution that decried the recent anti–Christian violence and condemned the Pakistani authorities of having "done nothing to defuse the tension," and of "failing to repair the situation."

The delegates at the consultation also univocally urged the Pakistan Government to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice, and to be bold and repeal the notorious blasphemy laws that are the cause of so much inter–religious strife.

The delegates specifically highlighted the widespread abuse of Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws in place since 1986. Under this legislation, insulting the prophet Mohammed and desecrating the Koran are punishable by death or life imprisonment. Many human rights groups feel that blasphemy cases are often opened in local courts as a pretext to settle personal scores and Masih has been “clearly victimized due to his religion.”