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Islamabad: Pakistani Christians closed their
schools and colleges across the country for three days
from Monday, August 3, 2009 to mourn and protest the
killings of eight of their religious brethren, Christian
leaders said.
Hundreds of Muslims, apparently spurred by a banned
Islamist group, stormed a Christian neighbourhood in the
eastern city of Gojra on Saturday, August 1, 2009,
burning dozens of houses after reports surfaced that
some Christians had desecrated a Quran.
“We are closing the schools to show our anger and
concern,” Bishop Sadiq Daniel told The Associated Press,
noting the move was a peaceful tactic. “We want the
government to bring all perpetrators of the crime to
justice.”
Paramilitary troops and other security forces were
patrolling the city. Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for
Pakistan’s president, said a judicial panel will probe
the incident. Christians and Muslims usually live
together peacefully in Pakistan, which is overwhelmingly
Muslim.
The clashes between the Muslims and Christians began on
July 30, 2009 following reports that a copy of the Quran
had been defiled. Hundreds of Muslim protesters set fire
to several Christians’ houses in the first two days, but
the violence reached its peak on Saturday, August 1.
Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti said the
attackers belonged to a banned Sunni Muslim extremist
group, Sipah-e-Sahaba. Officials have tried to calm the
situation.
“This is not the work of Muslims. A group of extremists
have exploited the situation,” Sanaullah told a group of
Christians after the funeral prayers for the deceased
Sunday night. “I also want to appeal to both the
communities to remain calm. Please do not become a tool
in the hands of some miscreants.”
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