Muslim Mob Burns Christian Home After Killing Man

Monday, February 15, 2010 (2:17 am)
By Worthy News Asia Service

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)-- A Christian father in Pakistan's Punjab province was without his home Monday, February 15, as his house was burned down by angry Muslims who killed his son in 2008, rights activists said.

Three Muslim brothers and their accomplices allegedly torched Walayat Masih's house in the city of Gujranwala on January 26, eighteen months after they allegedly killed his eldest son, said U.S.-based advocacy group International Christian Concern (ICC).

Their motives were not clear Monday, February 15. News of both incidents only emerged now as local local police told the victim "to keep quiet" about the violent acts, according to rights investigators. "Unfortunately this is a normal occurrence for Christians in Pakistan," ICC said.

POLICE CONTROVERSY

Masih reportedly informed local police about both incidents, but in both cases police "refused" to investigate the alleged suspects, ICC said. "No one has been arrested for these crimes."

There was no immediate comment from local police, but authorities have come under international pressure to improve protection of minority Christians in the mainly Muslim nation.

"Muslim radicals subject Pakistani Christians to various forms of persecution, including violent attacks, forceful land seizures and raping of Christian women," ICC said.

ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia, Jonathan Racho, explained in a statement that his group condemns "the failure by Pakistani police to investigate the death of Masih’s son and the burning of his house."

"We call upon officials of Pakistan to immediately investigate the involvement of the three Muslim brothers in the killing of Masih’s son and burning of his house." (With editing by Worthy News' Stefan J. Bos).

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