On Monday, Christians across Pakistan mourned the Gojra tragedy, which led to the death of seven people over the weekend. Hundreds of Muslims, apparently spurred by a banned militant group, stormed a Christian neighbourhood, burning dozens of houses after reports surfaced that some Christians had desecrated a Quran. In response to the attack, the Christian community held protests and insisted that charges of negligence be registered against the Gojra DCO and DPO.
Does the Gojra incident emphasise the fact that the government is finding it increasingly difficult to protect Pakistani citizens from attacks by organised, well-armed groups? What should the government do if the Gojra incident is proved to have been spurred by a banned militant outfit to spark Muslim-Christian riots? Is Gojra an isolated incident, or yet another indication that Pakistani society is becoming increasingly extremist and intolerant?
Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law has often been criticised for breeding religious intolerance. Under the law, the mere accusation of saying or writing something deemed insulting to Prophet Mohammad or the Holy Quran is enough to be arrested and imprisoned. Religious groups see the law as important for the ‘protection’ of Islam, while minority groups see it as an unfair law that is used to intimidate non-Muslims. Since 1986, at least 892 persons have been accused of blasphemy and in virtually every case the charges were completely fabricated. In your opinion, would repealing the blasphemy law help prevent incidents such as the attacks in Gojra?
The views expressed in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Stoping hate speaches from pulpits of mosques, banning hate inciting communal literature, strong administrative actions and judicial punishments in previous such cases of communal arson and murders, repeal of blashpemy law and complete seperation of state and religion are needed to overcome this monster of senseless killings and widespread damages to citizens of other faiths and their properties.
Killing innocent people is unIslamic. The animals who are involved in killing and burning must be severely punished. Christians and muslims should work together to find out who was the insensitive culprit who did this disrespectful act. Those persons are equally responsible for death of the innocent peoples.
It’s becoming our habit in Pakistan to break the law. Few day ago when police tried to do its job SHO got transferred, lawyers were seen on national TV beating up a police officer in public and now people are being burned alive.
May Allah help Pakistan
Every such law should be annuled. Religious intolrence does not have any place on this earth. if we want to live peacefully
I wonder the change in law will bring any effect on already banned and unlawful extremiest groups who have killed more fellow muslims than non-muslims in Pakistan. The governement needs to expose the financers and big players of this dirty game of extremism in our dear homeland. A disease can’t be cured unless it is rightly diagnosed otherwise all the treatment will only aggravate the already pathetic situation.
Its very horrifying to see that houses of Christian community members were set on fire. Early reports suggest that militant groups from Jhang did this. Now it is upto the government of Punjab to prove what it has been saying, the justice. Islam would not be protected by only attacking minorities but what we do for our fellowmen, no doubt they be christians.
I am deeply saddened and hurt by the recent burning and killing of Christians in Gojra, but im not surprised incidents like these have been occuring from time time and they will since this land of the pure is based on a -so called – ideology which favours a certain religious belief. Unless this country is declared secular religious persecution will go on, today its the christians, next will b the Shias and others.
1) Abolish blasphemy law
2) Stop brainwashing children by teaching spurious and malign ideas of Shahadat and Jihad in school. Or at least teach them about Jihad against poverty and ignorance.
3) Make Pakistan a secular muslim nation – equal right for all religion.
But nothing will happen. Because an average pakistani has been brainwahsed and an attitude of intolarance to non-muslims has spread in entire society.
And if above changes happen, it will take at least a generation – 25 years – for the society to change – i.e. when children with secular education become full adult and change the mindset of the nation.
Till then, good luck.
I think that Gojra incident is an outcome of many factors which reinforce one another. This is why it is not difficult to understand the path dependence and similarities in many incidences in the past. One factor is horizontal inequality (inequality amongst social groups) which manifests itself in divergent social and economic positions of minorities vis-a-vis majority. The discriminatory laws also play a role which ass pervasive risk factors for an environment of insecurity to sustain. Minorities being inherently weak are prosecuted more easily and personal scores are settled in the name of religious identity. Other important factors, apart from the socio-economic positions and legal environment is non-acceptance of plurality in society and frequently challenging the monopoly of the state over violence by armed groups. However, this incident seems more an act of terror which was possible because the social cleavages and inequalities weaken the social body and decrease the cost of terrorism. A state fully functional and autonomous maintaining equal distances with citizens is necessary to control such incidences.
The law is not the problem but the ignorant Pakistani public who decides to take law in their own hand and destroy life and property on any excuse. Doesnt matter if the fuel is added by a maulvi, a politician or even a lawyer.
You will see such unrest and disregard for peoples rights because our police does not and maybe now, can not carry out its duties properly. This gives any person regardless of his motive a chance to strike while the iron is hot and cause as much damage and benefit to his own cause as possible.
Extremely sad. Sad to know that even in this day and age such extreme level of religious intolerance exists. How can we ever progress with such a mind set?
I wish muslims would stop considering themselves superior and understand that all religions teach good things and deserve the same level of respect. No one has the right to kill, no matter what the person might have said about ur religion.
1.Review school curriculum.
2. Review the need for blasphemy law.
3. When intolerance is manifested, take immediate and exemplary action.
4. Take action against people who spew hate speech on TV channels.
5. Review and revise history books that generate inappropriate hatred towards minorities.
Above all emphasize that national identify or being a Pakistani is more important than religious identity or being a Muslim.
The state minister for minorities and the police chief should resign.