Worshippers Attacked During Church Service
On April 16, 2023, a violent mob of around 45 Muslims attacked a church in Pindorian, Islamabad during Sunday service. According to reports, the incident began outside the church when three young Muslim men began harassing 20-year-old Sharjeel and his 19-year-old sister on their way to church to lead worship with their father Pastor Yonas Javed, who pastors the protestant church “Voice of Jesus”. Sharjeel asked the harassers to stop bothering his sister, but they started cursing and abusing him before leaving.
Both Sharjeel and his sister reached church and the Sunday service started as usual. About half an hour into worship, a mob armed with iron bars, clubs and a loaded gun stormed the church and started firing in the air to terrorize the worshipers. The attack didn’t halt until the police arrived.
According to the reports, Pastor Yonas immediately filed a complaint against the act of terrorism committed by the three young men and 45 unidentified people. The police booked the perpetrators under non-bailable charges of the Anti-Terrorism Law. The local police have made five arrests so far; however, some of the perpetrators are still at large. Pastor Ramiz Munir, spokesman for the Church of the Voice of Jesus, demanded the government protect the churches and the Christians. He further said that “we conduct our rituals peacefully, but these people who promote violence do not obey the laws of the country and harass us.”
Canadian Aid to Persecuted Christians is seriously concerned about the increasing reports of violence against religious minorities and the harassment of local churches in Pakistan. It is the foremost responsibility of the state to protect its minorities without any bias or discrimination. The culprits should be punished and justice be served to the victims.