Release International

Release partners are supporting a Christian community in Punjab where a violent mob threw acid over women and attacked homes.

A huge mob rampaged through Bahmaniwala village in Kasur district, looting and burning after mosque loudspeakers accused local Christians of blasphemy.

Nine women and girls had to be treated for acid burns after the assault on July 1. One teenage girl named Noreen narrowly escaped being hurt by a petrol bomb which was thrown into the room where she was washing. When she ran out, naked, someone threw acid over her back and her face. Most of the men from the village were away tending their land or selling their crops at market at the time.

The precise details of the alleged 'blasphemy' are unclear. Some Release sources report that the furore arose out of a petty 'road rage' squabble between a Christian and a Muslim.

Release partners Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) and Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan were soon at the scene, providing food and arranging medical treatment for the injured, who included four children.

As well as being traumatised, the village's 100 Christian families were left without food, electricity and water – the mob had also cut power lines and destroyed water pumps. Local shops were reportedly refusing to serve Christians.

CLAAS and SLMP led a demonstration in Lahore on July 6, calling on Kasur officials and police to do more to bring the culprits to justice and to protect the local Christian community. Some police were allegedly at the scene during the attack but did not intervene to stop it. No arrests have been made so far. SLMP reports that Bahmaniwala villagers were intending to take part in the protest but 'police blocked them in their houses'.

(Sources: AsiaNews, CLAAS, Compass Direct, Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan)

Breaking news: Joseph Francis, Director of CLAAS (see above), has just been detained over legal procedure in relation to a case alleging attempted conversion to Christianity by force. Four others are also being held by police at the time of writing. CLAAS says that the attempted conversion charges are false.

• Pray for the immediate release of Joseph Francis and the others. Ask God to grant His peace to them and the rest of the CLAAS team. Pray that any charges against Joseph will be dropped.
• Pray God's peace, healing and protection over Christians in Bahmaniwala. Pray that police and officials will do their utmost to bring the culprits to justice.

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