Muslims demand hanging of ‘Quran desecrater’

SANGLA HILL, Pakistan — During Dec. 2 prayers in Pakistan’s Punjab province, Muslim clerics, flanked by government officials, demanded the public execution of a Christian accused of blasphemy. An Islamist group leader called for a nationwide protest urging the execution of Yousaf Masih, a Christian accused of burning pages from the Quran.

The accusations triggered Muslim violence in the Punjabi town of Sangla Hill that destroyed four churches. Eyewitnesses said they saw a Muslim who owed Masih a large amount of money throw a burning match into the room where the Quran was. Sangla Hill police have arrested and tortured four of Masih’s six brothers, prompting the Masih to give himself up in exchange for their release.