Church in Chains, August 22nd, 2024 (excerpts)
One year after the Jaranwala riots, Christians are calling for justice as most of those arrested in connection with the attack have been discharged or released on bail.
Around ninety Christian homes were destroyed and more than four hundred homes and 25 church buildings were damaged and looted on 16 August 2023 when a mob of thousands of Muslims attacked the Christian community in Jaranwala, 40 km from Faisalabad in Punjab province.
The violence followed false allegations of blasphemy against Christian brothers Raja Amir Saleem Masih and Rocky Saleem Masih, who were charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws but were acquitted earlier this year after an anti-terrorism court found that they had been framed by another Christian following a personal dispute.
Amnesty International found that only 380 of 5,213 suspects were arrested, and stated: “Of the arrested suspects, 228 were released on bail and 77 others had the charges against them dropped,” adding that trials of suspects have not started and that about forty percent of victims who lost property are still awaiting government compensation.
Salman Farooq of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that among those bailed in recent months was Younis Machhi, who had made the announcement on the mosque loudspeaker calling people to gather.