Pakistani mob burns down Lutheran church

September 25, 2012

Angered by the release of a video critical of Muhammad, a mob ransacked and burned down a Lutheran church and other church property in Mardan, a city in northern Pakistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari decried the attack as “unfortunate and reprehensible” as well as against Muslim teaching.

“The divine books in the church have also been burnt down while the church has totally been ransacked and in a shambles,” said the church’s vice president. “We are Pakistanis first and then Christians, so we would condemn any such act which would be against Islam or any other religion and would expect the same treatment from our Muslim brothers as well.”

“We are peaceful and hold Muslim and their religious faith in high esteem and condemn the individual act which had become a source of embarrassment and outrage for the Muslims across the world, but we also need protection and respect from them,” he added.

 

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Further information:

• Mardan Christians unhappy with security; demand reconstruction of burnt church (Dawn)
• Zardari condemns attack on Mardan church (Pakistan Observer)