Pakistan Grants Bail to 13 Muslims Accused

of Carnage Against Christians

Washington, D.C. (September 17, 2009) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on September 7, a Pakistani court granted bail to 13 Muslims, including radical clerics who incited mob attacks against Christians, that resulted in 11 Christians being killed and over 40 Christians homes being burned down in Gojra.

Chief Justices Khawaja Muhammad Sharif and Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhary of the Lahore High court decided to grant the bail to the following: Bashir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Abid, Kaleem Ullah, Touqir Ahmed, Muhammad Yaqoob, Sajid Farooqi, Qari Majid Farooqi, Saeed Afzal, Rizwan Akram, Amer Hayyat and Muhammad Rehman.

On August 1, 2009, a Muslim mob estimated at 3000 assaulted Christians in Gojra after radical Muslim clerics accused the Christians of blasphemy and called for the attacks. For a detail story on the attacks, please go to: /suffering/pressdetail.php?presscode=322.

ICC’s Jonathan Racho said, “We condemn in strongest terms the decision by the Lahore High Court to release the individuals responsible for the carnage in Gojra. Pakistan has repeatedly failed to bring perpetrators of violence against Christians to justice, and this latest decision helps to perpetuate a culture of impunity in Pakistan. We urge Pakistan to arrest all individuals responsible for the attacks against Christians. We also ask the government Pakistan to repeal blasphemy laws that are fueling violence against Christians. ”

ICC urges all concerned parties to sign the petition that calls for repeal of blasphemy laws in Pakistan . To read and sign the petition, please go to: http://tinypetition.com/RepealBlasphemyLaw.

Please contact the Embassy of Pakistan in your country and tell them you are opposed to their decision to release the fanatics on bail.

Pakistani Embassies:

USA : (202) 243-6500

Canada : (613) 238-7881

UK : 0870-005-6967

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address, www.www.persecution.org. 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.