Ten individuals accused of involvement in massive riots targeting Christians in Pakistan have been acquitted, according to an attorney.
The attorney faults a defective police investigation for the acquittals and also accuses some Christians of thwarting prosecution efforts, reports Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
RELATED: Check out more stories on the persecuted church. Subscribe to The Alabama Baptist today.
The 10 Muslims were accused of burning a Salvation Army church and ransacking the home of a Christian in Jaranwala, Pakistan, on Aug. 16, 2023, states the news outlet.
On that day, thousands of Muslim rioters attacked the village of Chak 651/2 GB in Jaranwala in Punjab province after two Christian brothers were falsely accused of producing blasphemous content and desecrating the Quran.
More than 25 churches and 85 homes were damaged, the news outlet states.
Possible appeal
The 10 Muslims were acquitted June 4 despite evidence from 23 witnesses, the attorney told Christian Daily-Morning Star. He anticipates that the acquittal will be appealed to Lahore High Court.
Referencing figures from Amnesty International, the news outlet says there were 5,213 suspected rioters, of whom 380 were arrested. “Of the arrested suspects, 228 were released on bail, and 77 others had the charges against them dropped,” said Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty’s deputy regional director for South Asia, in a statement.
As for the two falsely accused Christian brothers, they earlier “were acquitted of the blasphemy charges after an anti-terrorism court found that they had been framed by another Christian following a personal dispute,” states Christian Daily-Morning Star.
World Watch
Pakistan is No. 8 on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of 50 places most difficult to be a Christian.
Share with others: