July to September 2025 and Anti-Muslim Hate Cases in the U.K.

September 26, 2025 Article

Tell MAMA has documented a significant rise in the numbers of anti-Muslim hate cases in the United Kingdom between July and September 2025. Victims of anti-Muslim hate that we have spoken to have experienced abuse, racism, and targeted hate. Many individuals have reported being told to “leave the UK” or “go back to their own country“—language that is both deeply offensive and rooted in xenophobia.

Between June to September 2025, we have noted that there have been 17 cases reported to Tell MAMA that have involved attacks on mosques or Islamic institutions. This makes on average, 4 institutions that have been targeted each month over 4 months. The graphic listed above, shows the scale of the issue that we are dealing with, whilst this Government tinkers round the edges, appoints people who have no real expertise in this work to try to address anti-Muslim hate, and generally is clueless and politically driven in who it works with. This Government has been in place for more than 15 months now and there has been a political vacuum, where there should be have been a clear plan to tackle levels of hate and specifically, anti-Muslim hate. Discussions about a ‘definition of anti-Muslim hate’ have wasted time, resources and generated more mistrust in this work, when the laws are clear and when better enforcement should have been the strategy. Whilst Government has been talking about a ‘definition of Islamophobia’ – it has led to a greater belief in some communities of a two-tier set of principles in relation to different communities and has not helped the work of countering anti-Muslim hate in any way.

Details and Statistics of Cases

Since July to September 2025, we have recorded the following in Tell MAMA:

913 cases that have targeted Muslims in the United Kingdom for anti-Muslim hate with many of those being people who were not born in the country and who are visibly different to the majority population.
17 mosques and Islamic institutions have been targeted which we have mapped out in the previous graphic. This is deeply alarming since attacks on mosques and Islamic institutions send a much wider message to those who use the mosque, that they are not safe. It creates greater fears within communities who use the faith institutions.
Victims of anti-Muslim have reported to us comments that have included, “Leave the U.K” and ‘go back to your country“. These comments are very similar to ones that were targeted at British Muslims and African Caribbean and African communities post the Brexit vote. This points to some association with the political discourse around migration and whilst these are topics of national debate, we are flagging the fact that they are having real-world impacts on the lives of people going about their daily activities. This targeting of individuals because of their perceived faith or their race, or around perceptions as to whether they ‘could be a migrant or asylum seeker’ is toxic to community relations, local trust and social cohesion going forward.

Commenting on the release of this data, the Director of Tell MAMA said:

“It is shocking to see the volume and the high numbers of cases that we are receiving into Tell MAMA. We have diligently documented, over the last 13 years, year on year rises in anti-Muslim hate and this year, we may well have the highest numbers surpassing the 2023-2024 figures of over 6,000 cases reported to Tell MAMA. This comes at a time when real political leadership is missing.”

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Categories: anti-Muslim attacks, anti-Muslim hate, Asylum, Community Cohesion, General, immigration, Islamophobia cases, June to September 2025, migration, mosques

Recent YouGov poll shows that community cohesion work is needed more than ever

July 28, 2025 Article

Recent YouGov polling sparked concern and reflected what Imam Sabah Ahmedi described as “high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment” across Britain, as reported by the BBC and The Telegraph.

Now, Muslim women interviewed are pushing back against the idea that they did not choose to wear the headscarf.

“My hijab is completely my own choice. My religion, the way I practice it, is completely my own choice,” university student Unaizah Ahmad, 25, told the press as she urged understanding and dialogue “instead of giving in to preconceived biases.”

The YouGov poll, commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community ahead of their Jalsa Salana (annual convention), surveyed 2,130 adults in Britain between 16 and 17 July.

The first question asked: ‘Do you think the following groups of immigrants to the UK generally have a positive or negative impact on the country?’ broken down by religion – Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish.

Whilst the total negative impact of Muslim migrants in the polling understandably made headlines, totalling 41 per cent, the figures also revealed that Reform voters, above all other parties, proved far more likely to agree that Muslim immigrants had a “fairly negative impact” (34 per cent) and a “very negative impact” (54 per cent), respectively. And yet, across those voters from the other major parties in the 2024 General Election, 52 per cent of Conservative voters, 29 per cent of Labour voters, 19 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters, and 22 per cent of Green voters took a net negative view.

Conversely, just over one in ten Conservative voters (13 per cent), 35 per cent of Labour voters, 36 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters and 42 per cent of Green voters held a net positive view (when combining answers for a “very positive impact” and “fairly positive impact”, respectively). Just three per cent of Reform voters polled agreed that Muslim immigrants provided positives.

Whilst some news analysis did highlight the greater levels of negativity towards Muslim immigrants than other faith groups, there are two caveats to consider: those who answered “don’t know” and “Neither positive nor negative impact”. Across each faith group, just over one in ten polled answered “don’t know”. And while Muslims scored slightly lower than other faith groups, with the latter example, almost one quarter of those surveyed (24 per cent) agreed with the “Neither positive nor negative impact” answer (a figure that rises to more than one-third with the other faith groups).

When asked, “Generally speaking, do you think Islam is or is not compatible with British values?” 93 per cent of Reform voters said no, compared to 69 per cent of Conservative voters, 41 per cent of Labour voters, 35 per cent of Lib Dem voters, and 22 per cent of Green voters. In comparison, one-quarter of voters polled agreed that it proved compatible with British values, as just over one in five (22 per cent) answered “Don’t know”.

The next question saw bigger splits between voters and perhaps reflects more on how the question was framed, as it asked, “From what you know, do you think Islam encourages or discourages Muslims to carry out acts of violence against non-Muslims, or does it neither encourage nor discourage this?” Just over one-third (31 per cent) agreed that it did, as almost an equal number of voters disagreed that it did (27 per cent), with almost one-fifth agreeing that Islam neither “encourages nor discourages this” as 24 per cent answered, “Don’t know”. Again, Reform voters (70 per cent) agreed that it did, compared to 40 per cent of Conservative voters, 18 per cent of Labour voters, 17 per cent of Lib Dem voters and nine per cent of Green voters.

The final question asked, “Thinking about the reasons why British Muslim women might decide to wear a hijab, which of the following comes closest to your view?” Labour and Liberal Democrat voters showed a clear split on the choices of personal choice (36 per cent) or family/community pressure (39 per cent), as Conservative voters (65 per cent) and Reform voters (74 per cent) agreed with the second choice (pressured to do so). It is worth noting also that just over one-fifth (21 per cent) selected “Don’t know”.

Reacting to the poll findings, Farooq Aftab, a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, called for wider societal change and improving community cohesion, making clear that: “We recognise that concerns about integration and social change exist in society — but these cannot be allowed to turn into hostility or alienation. We call on leaders, institutions, and communities across the country to work together in strengthening cohesion, promoting dialogue, and standing against division.”

At a time of rising anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobic sentiment, there is a great need across government to improve social cohesion, encourage and foster improved dialogue between communities, whilst ensuring that those who are targeted for their faith or belief can get the support they need. That Muslim communities can have their voices heard in meaningful ways across society more generally, beyond discussions on hate crime, but on everyday matters, of structural biases and allow for misconceptions and stereotypes (whether in sections of the media or politics) to be challenged in a manner that upholds the fundamental rights of all.

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Categories: Ahmadi Muslims, Ahmadiyya, Hijab, News, Opinions, polling, YouGov

Man who burned Koran guilty of religiously aggravated public order offence

June 2, 2025 Article

The burning of a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London amounted to a religiously aggravated public order offence, a judge has found.

Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted “f*** Islam”, “Islam is religion of terrorism” and “Koran is burning” as he held the flaming Islamic text aloft in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, on February 13, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard last week.

District Judge John McGarva delivered his verdict at the same court on Monday.

Coskun was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly behaviour “within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress”, motivated by “hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam”, contrary to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.

District Judge McGarva said Coskun’s conduct was “provocative and taunting”.

Addressing Coskun, the judge said: “After considering the evidence, I find you have a deep-seated hatred of Islam and its followers.

“That’s based on your experiences in Turkey and the experiences of your family. It’s not possible to separate your views about the religion to your views about the followers.

“Your actions in burning the Koran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.

“Your evidence was that your criticism is of Islam in general, not its followers; I don’t accept that. You believe Islam is an ideology that encourages its followers to violence, paedophilia and disregard for the rights of non-believers, you don’t distinguish between the two.”

The judge added: “Standing holding a burning Koran and saying loudly: ‘Koran is burning’ is clearly aimed at provoking others.

“I do accept that the choice of location was in part that you wanted to protest what you see as the Islamification of Turkey. But you were also motivated by the hatred of Muslims and knew some would be at the location.”

District Judge McGarva said the prosecution was not “an attempt to bring back and expand blasphemy law”, adding “it is clearly not an offence to criticise a religion”.

He added: “Burning a religious book, although offensive to some, is not necessarily disorderly.

“What made his conduct disorderly was the timing and location of the conduct and that all this was accompanied by abusive language.”

Coskun was fined £240, with a statutory surcharge of £96.

The National Secular Society (NSS) branded the verdict a “significant blow to freedom of expression” which “signals a concerning capitulation to Islamic blasphemy codes”.

Turkey-born Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian, travelled from his home in the Midlands and set fire to the Koran at around 2pm, the court heard.

In footage captured on a mobile phone by a passerby that was shown to the court, a man approached and asked Coskun why he was burning a copy of the Koran.

Coskun can be heard making a reference to “terrorist” and the man called the defendant “a f****** idiot”.

The man approached him allegedly holding a knife or bladed article and appeared to slash out at him, the court heard.

The footage appeared to show Coskun back away and use the burning Koran to deflect the attacker, who is alleged to have slashed out at him again.

The man chased Coskun, and the defendant stumbled forward and fell to the ground, dropping the Koran, the footage showed.

Coskun was spat at and kicked by the man, the court heard.

The man said: “Burning the Koran? It’s my religion, you don’t burn the Koran.”

Coskun had posted on social media that he was protesting against the “Islamist government” of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who the defendant allegedly said “has made Turkey a base for radical Islamists and is trying to establish a Sharia regime”, prosecutors said.

The defendant, who is an atheist, believes that he protested peacefully and burning the Koran amounted to freedom of expression, the court heard.

His legal fees are being paid for by the NSS and the Free Speech Union (FSU), which said they intend to appeal against the verdict “and keep on appealing it until it’s overturned”.

An FSU spokesperson said: “If that means taking it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, we will do so.

“Religious tolerance is an important British value, but it doesn’t require non-believers to respect the blasphemy codes of believers. On the contrary, it requires people of faith to tolerate those who criticise and protest against their religion, just as their values and beliefs are tolerated.”

NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: “The court’s acceptance of the prosecution’s assertion that Mr Coskun’s actions stemmed from hostility towards Muslims raises serious concerns. It is essential to differentiate between prejudice or hatred aimed at individuals and hostility towards the ideologies of Islam or Islamism.

“The conviction of Mr Coskun on the grounds that his actions were ‘likely’ to cause harassment, alarm, or distress suggests a troubling repurposing of public order laws as a proxy for blasphemy laws. This jeopardises freedom of expression by establishing a ‘heckler’s veto’ that incentivises violent responses to suppress views deemed offensive.

“Such an erosion of free speech is detrimental to community relations. Social cohesion is best achieved not by restricting rights but by fostering their free exercise.”

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Categories: burn, Burning, guilty, Hamit Coskun, Koran, News, Public Offence, Quran, Religiously aggravated, terrorism

Teenager charged after rock smashes mosque window while worshippers inside

March 17, 2025 Article

A teenager has been charged after paint was thrown at a mosque and a rock smashed a window while worshippers were inside.

Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre has condemned incidents which happened on Saturday evening.

In the first incident, paint was allegedly thrown at the door and pavement area on Spital and a few hours later a rock came through a window of the mosque.

Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and said a 17-year-old boy has been charged.

Nobody was hurt but those in the building were left shaken.

A mosque spokesperson told the PA news agency: “The rock went through the window and (it) shattered. Everybody was fine but people are a bit shaken.

“It happened at around 9pm while prayers were going on.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Following an investigation into reports of vandalism at a mosque in Spital, Aberdeen, officers have arrested and charged a 17-year-old male. The incident occurred on Saturday 15 March.

“Police are treating the incident as a hate crime.

“The male has been released on an undertaking and will appear at court at a later date.”

In a joint statement on social media, the Mosque and Islamic Centre thanked those who offered support in the aftermath and praised “kind neighbours and worshippers” who united to help clean up the mess.

They said: “We are very grateful to our neighbours and well-wishers in these difficult times.”

They added: “The mosques in Aberdeen would like to assure all members of the community that, in light of these incidents, all the mosques are taking additional security measures as well as being assured of support from the police.

“The police will be performing additional patrols around the mosques during prayer and other busy times.

“We would ask all attendees and worshippers to please be alert and remain vigilant, however, do not be alarmed and continue with your efforts and prayers to gain maximum benefits from this blessed month of Ramadan.”

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Categories: Aberdeen, anti-Muslim hate, Charged, mosque, mosques, News, Teenager

Former soldier jailed for social media posts inciting racial hatred

November 18, 2024 Article

A former soldier who made Facebook posts referring to “civil war” in the aftermath of the Southport attacks has been jailed for two years.

Daffron Williams, 40, who served on tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of publishing material likely to stir up racial hatred relating to public posts made between July 19 and August 11.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the posts, made before and after three girls were fatally stabbed at a dance class on July 29, included Williams describing Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, as a “f***ing hero”.

In one post, the day after the incident in Southport, Williams wrote: “Civil war is here. The only thing that’s missing is bullets. That’s the next step.”

The court heard Williams, of Tonypandy, south Wales, has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relating to his time in the army, during which he served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, told Williams that there had been “serious public disorder” following the Southport attacks.

She said: “It was on July 31 this year that South Wales Police received complaints about your Facebook account.

“Your Facebook profile was an open profile, which means any member of the public, anywhere in the country and the world, could view your profile and see your comments.”

The judge said Williams had posted a number of “racist comments” before the Southport incident and the disorder that followed.

Significant comments included Williams posting “Let’s just do something FFS” and “Civil war is here, the only thing that’s missing is bullets, that’s the next step”, she said.

Williams was arrested on August 11 and apologised when shown the Facebook posts, which he told police he regretted, the court heard.

Considering evidence about Williams’ PTSD, the judge said it was a mitigating factor for sentence, but added: “You knew exactly what you were doing, your posts were intentional.”

References submitted to the court on Williams’ behalf made clear he served his community as well as his country and had organised charity events, the judge told him.

Judge Lloyd-Clarke added: “I accept you have strong personal mitigation but given your encouragement to others to act – your references to civil war and to bullets – I am satisfied this offending is so serious that only custody is sufficient.”

Prosecuting, Alex Orndal said Williams had pleaded guilty to the charge against him when he appeared before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court in August and had been in custody since then.

In one Facebook comment, Williams said: “I am racist as f***, only to those who sap the life out of society and disrespect culture. Our future as British is so uncertain it is unreal.”

On July 24, he wrote: “Come on guys, it is time to stand up. Everything our ancestors, grandparents and parents fought for is ruined. Let’s do something.”

Four days later, Williams posted images from a Tommy Robinson rally in London, which he attended on July 27.

He wrote: “If that level of support continues, we will win our freedom back. That was too big to be called a racist protest.”

Williams added: “I have seen today they are trying to put Tommy Robinson in jail. God bless Tommy Robinson, f***ing hero.”

Mr Orndal told the court how Williams also posted two AI generated images following the Southport incident.

Representing Williams, John Allchurch said his client had been diagnosed with PTSD from serving as a soldier in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“The defendant experienced multiple traumatic events while in the army between 2004 and 2011,” Mr Allchurch said.

“He witnessed close comrades being brutally killed, as well as the defendant himself having to take action against enemy combatants.”

Mr Allchurch said Williams had experienced a recent deterioration in his mental health, linked to “combat training and traumatic experiences when a serving soldier and exposure to far right material on the internet”.

“The defendant is a man who has supported his country in the most difficult and trying of circumstances which has left him suffering with a mental disorder,” he added.

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Categories: Civil war, Daffron Williams, PTSD, Racial Hatred, Riots, Soldier, Southport attacks, Tommy Robinson

Blasphemy Continues to Fuel Extremism in Pakistan & Europe

October 26, 2024 Article

About six weeks ago, a 32 year old doctor in the Sindh province in Pakistan was shot by police. Shah Nawaz was killed by police who suggested that he was resisting arrest after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The blasphemy charge was that he had shared ‘blasphemous’ content on social media.

Nawaz’s family reject this charge and say that he was giving himself up and that he was killed by a member of the local police force on the basis that he had allegedly promoted ‘blasphemous’ content.

This killing came on the heels of another murder on September the 12th 2024, where a 52 year old man was killed in custody in Balochistan and who was being held on the basis of spurious ‘blasphemy’ charges.

Judiciary Involvement in Blasphemy

We must not forget that these killings and the charges of ‘blasphemy’ come on the back of a range of cases that have mainly involved the beleaguered Christian community in Pakistan, with the most high profile case being that of Asia Bibi.

Following on from Asia Bibi’s case, in May 2020, Aneeqa Ateeq a 26 year old Muslim woman was arrested in May 2020 and charged with circulating ‘blasphemous material’ on her Whatsapp messages. A court in Rawalpindi subsequently found Ateeq guilty and gave her a 20 year jail sentence and ordered her to be ‘hanged by her neck till she is dead”.

In 2021, a Pakistani Christian, Shagufta Kiran, was arrested for posting ‘blasphemous’ content on her Whatsapp messaging app in September 2020. The 40 year old mother of four was recently found guilty and has been sentenced to death.

The list of Christians and Muslims who have been accused of blasphemy continues to rise in Pakistan on the back of the introduction of ‘blasphemy’ as a political tool by the Islamist extremist group, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP). Such has been the spread of their narrative that the lives of minorities and those who even question faith, are at risk. The impacts of ‘blasphemy’ are therefore felt by Christian and Ahmadi communities who have borne the brunt of the actions of the state in denying them the most basic of rights.

Faith Matters will continue to highlight these human rights abuses and to highlight the lives of those affected by the ‘blasphemy police’ and extremists in Pakistan who seek to target minorities. Furthermore, the U.K. Government has not done enough in highlighting and challenging the human rights abuses around ‘blasphemy’ that are becoming pervasive in the country. The meekness of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on this matter, is unacceptable.

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Categories: Ahmadi, Aneeqa Ateeq, Asia Bibi, Balochistan, Blasphemy, Christians, Pakistan, Persecution, Shah Nawaz, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, TLP

Tommy Robinson to miss planned protest after being remanded into custody

October 25, 2024 Article

Political activist Tommy Robinson will miss his own planned march for thousands of people after being remanded into custody by police.

The 41-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused of being in contempt of court following the airing of a film at a protest in central London.

He attended Folkestone Police station on Friday where he was separately charged with failing to provide his mobile phone pin to police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, Kent Police said.

Robinson is due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday for a two-day hearing concerning allegations he breached a 2021 High Court order barring him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him.

Supporters of Robinson are due to hold a demonstration on Saturday, which is expected to be met with a counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism.

The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police are due to be supported by officers from other forces across the country as the Met said there will be a “significant police presence” to ensure the two groups are kept apart.

The post Tommy Robinson to miss planned protest after being remanded into custody appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: News, protest, Schedule 7, Stephen Yaxley Lennon, Syrian Refugee, Terrorism Act, Tommy Robinson

Iran clamps down again on headscarf offences

April 14, 2024 Article

Iran is again taking tougher action against violations by women of strict Islamic dress codes, with the start on Saturday of a new drive on observance of the regulations in the Gulf state.

Controls were tightened nationwide and women disregarding the requirement to wear a headscarf in public remain guilty of a criminal offence, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Telegram, citing a police commander.

Since the mass protests led by women in the autumn of 2022, Iran’s notorious morality police have been less strict, partly because they experienced more resistance from the population.

Instead, security agencies stepped up video surveillance of offences. For example, cars belonging to women who were repeatedly caught driving without a headscarf were impounded.

Authorities also tracked offences online, including photos of women without headscarves posted on Instagram. Shops and restaurants whose customers disregarded the dress code were ordered to close.

Since 2022, more and more Iranian women have been ignoring the dress code, while religious hardliners have tried to fight the growing defiance.

A new bill passed by parliament provides for draconian punishments but has not yet come into force.

In the coming weeks, a revised version is to be resubmitted to Iran’s so-called Guardian Council, an arch-conservative, 12-member supervisory body.

The mass protests were triggered by the death of the young Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini after her arrest by police because of an allegedly ill-fitting headscarf.

An expert United Nations commission concluded that physical violence after the arrest led to her death.

The post Iran clamps down again on headscarf offences appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Headscarf, Iran, Islamic dress code, Islamist, Muslim

Churches in Pakistan attacked after Christian man accused of desecrating Koran

August 16, 2023 Article

Muslims in eastern Pakistan went on a rampage over allegations that a Christian man had desecrated the Koran, demolishing the man’s house, burning churches and damaging several other homes, police and local Christians have said.

The scale of the violence prompted the government to deploy additional police forces and send in the army to help restore order.

The attacks in Jaranwala, in the district of Faisalabad in Punjab province, erupted after some Muslims living in the area claimed they had seen a local Christian, Raja Amir, and his friend tearing out pages from a Koran, throwing them on the ground and writing insulting remarks on other pages.

Police chief Rizwan Khan said this had angered the local Muslims.

A mob gathered and began attacking multiple churches and several Christian homes, burning furniture and other household items.

Some members of the Christian community fled their homes to escape the mob.

Police eventually intervened, firing into the air and wielding batons before dispersing the attackers with the help of Muslim clerics and elders.

Authorities also said they have started launching raids in an effort to find all the perpetrators.

Dozens of rioters were arrested.

Police chief Bilal Mehmood told reporters they were also looking for Mr Amir, who went into hiding to escape the mob, and would detain him to determine whether he had desecrated the Koran.

Videos and photos posted on social media show an angry mob descending upon a church, throwing pieces of bricks and burning it.

In another video, two other churches are attacked, their windows broken as attackers throw furniture out and set it on fire.

Several policemen are seen in the videos watching the situation without intervening to stop the vandalism.

In yet another video, a man is seen climbing to the roof of the church and removing the steel cross after repeatedly hitting it with a hammer as the crowd down on the road cheered him on.

Khalid Mukhtar, a local priest, said most of the Christians living in the area had fled to safer places.

“Even my house was burned,” he added.

Mr Mukhtar said there are 17 churches in Jaranwala and he believes most of them were attacked.

The authorities did not immediately confirm that figure.

Mr Khan said additional police forces were later deployed in Jaranwala and an investigation was under way.

He said all involved in the attack would be prosecuted.

“Our first priority was to save the lives of all of the Christians,” he said.

Later in the evening, troops started arriving in Jaranwala to help the police.

Angry Muslims were urged to go back to their homes, allegedly with promises that the man who allegedly desecrated the Koran would soon be arrested.

A delegation of Muslim clerics also arrived in Jaranwala from the city of Lahore to express solidarity with the Christians.

Blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan.

Under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death.

While authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, often just the accusation can cause riots and incite mobs to violence, lynching and killings.

In one of the worst attacks on Christians, a mob in 2009 burned an estimated 60 homes and killed six Christians in the district of Gojra in Punjab, after accusing them of insulting Islam.

Wednesday’s attack drew nationwide condemnation from top leaders and major political parties.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said he was “gutted” by the images coming out of Faisalabad.

“Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits & bring them to justice,” he tweeted.

A senior Christian leader, Bishop Azad Marshall, appealed for help on social media and said he was “deeply pained and distressed”.

“We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom,” he tweeted.

Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the rampage, saying: “There is no place for violence in any religion.”

In the southern port city of Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, dozens of Christians rallied to denounce the attacks in Jaranwala.

Domestic and international human rights groups say blasphemy allegations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities in Pakistan and settle personal scores.

In December 2021, a Muslim mob descended on a sports equipment factory in Pakistan’s Sialkot district, killing a Sri Lankan man and burning his body publicly over allegations of blasphemy.

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Categories: Blasphemy, Christian, Christianity, imams, Jaranwala, Pakistan, Stoned