Pakistan: 50 Christian Homes Burned near Faisalabad Nigeria: Rising Christian Death Toll in North-East

News received by Barnabas Fund in the last 24 hours describes a brutal attack on Christians during a wedding celebration in a Pakistani village, and reports twelve churches burnt down in the latest violence in Nigeria, with at least ten Christians killed including two pastors.

Pakistan: Allegations of desecration a pretext for arson with military-style chemicals

Last night, 30 July, some 50 Christian homes were burned by Muslims in the village of Korian (Chak no. 362) in Gojra, District Faisalabad. A Christian wedding was being celebrated in the village and rumours spread that, during the wedding ceremony, a Qur’an had been burned. Incited by broadcasts from local mosques, Muslims torched Christian homes and also burned Christian-owned livestock. It appears that a flammable chemical, normally available only to the military, was used, as happened in the notorious attack on the Christian community in Shanti Nagar in 1997. To make matters worse, Muslims lay down in front of the fire engines to prevent them reaching the blazing houses.

The church building was vandalized and Bibles desecrated, but it was not set on fire. More than a quarter of the Christians of Korian are now homeless.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, comments, “It is only a month since the last attack on a Christian community in Pakistan (Link). Large-scale anti-Christian violence used to be very rare in Pakistan, but it is now becoming almost commonplace. This is a very alarming development in a country where a generation ago Christians could live securely, albeit with daily discrimination. In last night’s incident, it is reported that thousands of Muslims quickly assembled to join in the violence. This, together with the nature of the chemical used, raises the question as to how far such events are being orchestrated by Islamist militants opposed to the government, who are seeking to destablise Pakistani society by targeting the vulnerable Christian minority.”

Nigeria: Update on Christian dead and churches burnt

At least 12 churches are now confirmed burned and at least ten Christians killed in the violence earlier this week by the Islamic group known as Boko Haram (Link). Two of the dead are pastors, and other pastors are reported missing. Christians are particularly shocked by the brutal death of Yakubu Soko, who pastored a congregation in Maiduguri, Borno state; the father of seven was hacked to death with a machete. Christian homes have also been burned down.

Nigerian security forces appear to have defeated Boko Haram, and have killed its leader and at least 200 of its members.

Please help

Our Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan and Nigeria urgently need our help. Please send your gift for the injured, bereaved or homeless in Korian village, Pakistan, or in north-east Nigeria.

A donation to our Victims of Violence Fund will be used for either location or for incidents of anti-Christian violence in other places.

Korian Village, Pakistan 41-839
North-East Nigeria 39-838
Victims of Violence Fund 00-345

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