(July 20,2010) In Pakistan, two Christians have been killed, a church ransacked
and shops burnt, as Muslim-Christian tensions erupted into five hours of violence
in Faisalabad on Monday. Police were able to restore order and disperse the crowds
by using shellfire. On Tuesday, the situation remained tense. The murdered Christians
were brothers, who had been charged with publishing and distributing a blasphemous,
anti-Islamic pamphlet. They were shot dead as they arrived at court to face the charges.
Their shooting was witnessed by several people. A group of five priests rushed to
court after hearing the news and saw the bodies. Some were critical of the light security
arrangements for the accused men. “We had been demanding more security for them, but
we never expected this,” said Dominican Father Pascal Paulus. “Only three police
guards were insufficient,” he added. In the wake of the violence, Church offices,
including the local Caritas headquarters, remain closed. and several Christians have
fled their homes. Police say they have arrested 60 Muslims. A memorial service
was held for the brothers at the city’s Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, on Tuesday
morning. The congregation had to be brought in and out by a police escort. “We urge
Christians to remain peaceful but we also demand that the real culprits be brought
to justice,” said Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad who conducted the Mass. “Minorities
have suffered a lot,” said the Bishop.