13th November, 2014
Christian Solidarity Worldwide has joined with human rights groups in Pakistan in calling for an impartial inquiry to be held into the mob lynching of a Christian couple on 4th November.
Shahzad Masih and pregnant mother-of-four Shama Masih were burned to death in a brick kiln in the village of Kot Radha Kishan in Punjab province after a rumour that they had burned pages of the Quran. It has been reported that the mob of 1,200 broke their legs before they were burned alive so they couldn’t flee and that Ms Bibi was wrapped in cotton so she would catch fire more easily.
"They picked them up by their arms and legs and held them over the brick furnace until their clothes caught fire," family spokesman Javed Masih told NBC News. "And then they threw them inside the furnace."
The incident provoked an international outcry and, in what CSW described as an "unprecedented move", has seen both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the provincial chief minister – and brother of the PM – Shahbaz Sharif condemn the violence with the Prime Minister saying he would show "no mercy" to those responsible for the crime. Chief Minister Sharif has also promised compensation to the victims’ family and met with senior police officials with regard to the case.
More than 50 people have been arrested in connection with the killings but at the time of this report no-one is yet believed to have been charged.
Michelle Chaudhry, president of the Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation – a partner organisation of CSW, said the widespread misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws "has become a matter of paramount concern".
Andy Dipper, CSW’s chief operating officer, said the group echoed calls in Pakistan for an inquiry into the deaths. "In order for the cycle of impunity that fosters mob violence against minorities to end, those responsible for this crime must be held to account."
Mr Dipper also called on the Pakistan Government to implement a Supreme Court judgement handed down in June which provided guidelines for promoting religious tolerance and protecting religious minorities.
– DAVID ADAMS
Names of the victims were corrected on 20th November, 2014
