ICC Note:

Christians in Pakistan are marking the 8th anniversary of the deadly Gojra incident. On August 1, 2009, 9 Christians were burned alive by a mob of enraged Muslims after rumor of a Christian committing blasphemy had spread. The mob, told that a local Christian had desecrated a Quran, attacked the Christian neighborhood of Gojra, killing 9 Christians that could not flee as well as destroying 40 houses and a church. Accusations of blasphemy, especially when leveled against a religious minority, often precipitate mob violence in Pakistan. In 2013, a Christian neighborhood in Lahore, called Joseph Colony, was burned to the ground when a local Christian was accused of dishonoring the prophet Muhammad. 

08/01/2017 Pakistan (Christians in Pakistan) – Today, Christians in Pakistan mark the 8^th anniversary of the Gojra incident. Gojra, situated in the Punjab province of Pakistan, is where 9 innocent Christians, including women and children were burned alive on 1st August, 2009 following a local Christian being accused of committing blasphemy.

In this attack, many Christian homes were looted. Also, many Christians were injured and forced to flee from their homes. Those who failed to run due to lack of time and transportations were burned alive. The cause of this attack was an allegation that a Christian had desecrated the Holy Quran. More than 40 houses and a church were damaged.

The government sent the rangers, a paramilitary force, and heavy police forces to bring peace in the area. Rana Sanna Ulla, the Punjab Law Minister at the time, announced that a primary investigation showed there was no desecration of the Holy Quran, it was just rumor which was used by anti-state agencies to create chaos.

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