Christians in Pakistan Flee Homes after Blasphemy Accusation

A third accusation of blasphemy in less than a month resulted in Christians fearful of Islamic retribution to flee their homes in an eastern city in Pakistan. The situation was already tense after two Christians were arrested and charged with blasphemy this month (Morning Star News, Morning Star News), but this incident has put the security of the entire community at risk. The 3,500 to 4,000 Christian families living in the city panicked when they heard the announcement that posters reportedly lauding the desecration of the Koran in Sweden last week were posted on the wall of a mosque located near the Christian settlement. Nearly half of the Christian population in the area fled their homes fearing attacks by Muslims. The Lahore-based Center for Social Justice noted that 171 blasphemy cases were reported in 2022 and about 60 so far in 2023.