Pakistan’s Christians mourn bombing victims; official denounces lynching of Muslims

March 18, 2015

Pakistani Christians held a day of prayer and fasting on March 17 following attacks on a Catholic church and a Protestant church in Lahore that left 17 dead.

“Today [we] kneel before the Almighty in fasting and prayer for peace, forgiveness, mercy, grace, patience and tolerance,” said Bishop Rufin Anthony of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.

According to multiple media reports, two Muslims were lynched following the attacks on the churches. Nisar Ali Khan, the nation’s minister of the interior, called the lynchings “the worst form of terrorism.”

“A similar incident occurred right at the heart of Paris where a synagogue was attacked, but the minority Jews did not react violently in the French capital,” he said, according to a BBC report.

 

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Further information:

• Attacks in Lahore, Catholics and Protestants together for a day of fasting and prayer (AsiaNews.it)
• Pakistan Christians hold funerals for church blast victims (BBC)
• 2 church bombings in Pakistan; Pope, bishops lament persecution of Christians (CWN, 3/16)