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CONTACT:
Jeremy Sewall, Advocacy Director
1-800-422-5441, jeremy@www.persecution.org

UPDATE: Death Toll Rises to 11, Government Begins Investigation of Pakistan Violence
Christians Blame Violence on Blasphemy Laws, Government Blames Swat Valley Terrorists

Washington, D.C. (August 7, 2009) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that three more victims of the Gojra riots have died from their injuries as hundreds of Christians blocked roads in Lahore to protest against the government, which began a judicial inquiry into the riots yesterday.

The three Christians died from their injuries on August 3 and 5, bringing the confirmed death toll to 11. The president of Pakistan sent the governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, to Gojra on August 4 to express solidarity with the local Christians, and he admitted that “if the government had taken timely action, the Gojra riots could have been averted.”

Local Christian organizations organized a protest in the Youhanabad neighborhood of Lahore. Hundreds of Christians blocked major roads, shouting “the cold-blooded killers are accountable for the bloodshed of Christians” and criticizing the provincial Punjabi government for refusing to protect Christians in spite of ample warnings as to what was about to happen. The Christians called on the government to protect Christians and repeal Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court initiated an investigation under Judge Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman, who visited Gojra earlier this week, recording 444 statements from residents as he extended his condolences and pledged his full support for the Christian victims. The government has promised to deliver financial aid to the victims of the riots by today, August 7.

The government’s official stance is that the riots were influenced by terrorists fleeing from the Swat Valley, who wanted to damage relations between Pakistan and the West and distract from the Pakistani army’s success against the Taliban.

The government has pledged to hunt down the terrorists, and directed security forces to provide “foolproof security” to all religious minorities, their residences and places of worship.

ICC urges all concerned parties to continue pressuring the Embassy of Pakistan to uphold the rights of religious minorities and take immediate action to prosecute the leaders of the mob, especially the radical clerics who called for the attacks.

Pakistan Embassies:

USA: (202) 243-6500
Canada: (613) 238-7881
UK: 0870-005-6967

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ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

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