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footage showed burning houses and streets strewn with blackened furniture and people firing at each other from their rooftops. The dead were identified as Hameed Maseeh, 50, Asia Bibi, 20, Asifa Bibi, 19, Imamia Bibi, 22, Musa, 7, Akhlas Maseeh, 40, and
Parveen, 50. According to Rafiq Masih, a resident of the predominantly Christian colony âThey were shouting anti-Christian slogans and attacked our houses.â Residents said that police stood aside while the mob went on the rampage. âWe kept begging for protection, but police did not take action,â Masih said. According to Pakistan government they had received information that a group of armed âmiscreantsâ, with masked faces had come from
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222:, a banned militant group which has carried out attacks against security forces and bombings in recent years. This group was originally an anti-Shiite organization and was funded in the past by Pakistan's intelligence services to wage war in Kashmir. Police arrested more than 65 people for their alleged involvement in the violence under anti-terrorism laws. The arrested men include Qari Abdul Khaliq Kashmiri, a leader of the banned
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256:, the attacks are an indication of the unchecked growth of religious extremism in Pakistan. "This has to be a wake-up call for the government. The Gojra tragedy is just the latest, this is a direct consequence of the religious fanaticism that is rampant now all over Pakistan. These extremists are hell-bent upon killing every person who does not support their religious views," he said.
147:, there is a link between violence against Christians and the US-led war in Afghanistan. Joseph Francis of the Christian Nationalist Part stated that the Muslim mob in Gojra had been incited with hate-speech that called Christians "America's dogs", he added since "9/11, we've felt a lot more at risk. Islamic militants in Pakistan target other minority groups as well, including
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Kamran
Michael, the provincial Minister for Minority Affairs, who himself is Christian, said that there "is too much fear among the Christians", he added that "the situation is tense in the city, but security has been enhanced to keep the situation under control." Christian schools closed for three
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black laws that are used to target innocent civilians on trumped-up ruses. Nobody should demonize what is sacred to another, and Islam is clear on this issue, but nobody must be allowed to exploit and misuse laws, such as the
Blasphemy Law, which were ordered into law by a dictator, who politicized
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against
Mukhtar Maseeh, Talib Maseeh and Imran Maseeh without any arrest. Forty houses and a Church were set ablaze by a mob on August 1, 2009. Most of the houses were burnt by youths who had their faces covered with veils. The victims were all burnt alive. 18 others were injured. Televised
328:, Pakistan's oldest and most widely read English newspaper, stated in an editorial on 4 August argued that it was time to repeal the blasphemy laws - arguing that its existence run counter to that of a "democratic society that treats all its members, regardless of faith, equitably".
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to remain in Gojra until the situation becomes normal and also asked him to take steps for the security of people's life and property. Police lodged cases against 17 known and 783 unknown suspects following these attacks. Chief
Minister of Punjab,
285:: On August 4, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif visited the city, speaking to the media from a church in the city he strongly condemned the acts of violence and promised that members of the Muslim League will stay in the area for rehabilitation. President
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was sent to the city on orders of federal government. He stated that a preliminary investigation showed there was no desecration of the Qur'an. "It was just a rumor which was exploited by anti-state elements to create chaos," he said. President
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On August 4, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif visited the city and, speaking to the media from a church in the city, strongly condemned the acts of violence and promised that members of the Muslim League will stay in the area for rehabilitation.
171:. It was reported that Mukhtar Maseeh, Talib Maseeh and his son Imran Maseeh had desecrated the papers inscribed with Qur'an verses at a wedding ceremony. District Police Officer Inkisar Khan said a case had been registered under
159:, Pakistan had the world's highest increase of threats against minorities last year and was ranked the sixth most dangerous country for minorities overall. Pakistan was ranked after Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Burma.
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took serious notice of the incident and was concerned about the wrong done to the victims of violence as well as the wrong signals it sent about the image of
Pakistan and society to the international community.
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railway line for six hours, which passes through Gojra, by placing coffins of those killed on the tracks. On Sunday representatives of the protesters met with government ministers in talks to end the protests.
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condemned the violence against
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days to mourn the victims of these attacks. Christians in Gojra will mark August 11, traditionally celebrated as
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6,000 for each bereaved family. According to Shahbaz Bhatti, the federal minister for minorities, the attackers belonged to
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deplored the riots describing it as a 'senseless attack' that he was 'deeply grieved' to hear about.
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religion to make up for his own lack of legitimacy.â
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6 killed in Pakistan as Muslims burn Christian homes
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658:Gojra violence: Case registered against 800 people
16:Series of attacks targeting Christians in Pakistan
858:Pakistani president vows to restore Gojra - Video
533:Pakistani Christians: Police did not stop carnage
252:According to Iqbal Haider, co-chairperson of the
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826:Pope deplores attack on Christians in Pakistan
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749:Gojra riots sent wrong signal: Asif
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