11/26/2019 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – On November 16, a group called ‘Stop the Islamization of Norway’ staged a protest and attempted to burn a copy of the Quran in Kristiansand, Norway. In reaction, the Christian leadership of Pakistan has condemned the incident and called for greater religious harmony between Christians and Muslims.

“Our religion teaches us to pay homage to all holy personages and places of worship of other religions,” Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw, head of the Archdiocese of Lahore, shared in a video message on November 24. “Therefore, the clergy and Christians of Pakistan are sad over the shameful act of setting a Quran on fire in Norway.”

“We should respect all the religions’ prophets and holy books and expect others to respect ours in order to bring peace in the world,” the Archbishop continued. “We appeal to all people to pray for one another and respect everyone. No one should utter harmful words or perform sacrilegious acts against the concept of inter-faith harmony. The world is need of peace today which is only possible through respect and dialogue.”

The issue of blasphemy in Pakistan, especially against Islam, is extremely sensitive. In years past, offenses to Islam carried out in Europe and the United States have precipitated attacks on Christian communities across Pakistan.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are among the harshest in the world and carry a mandatory death sentence for those convicted of defaming the Prophet Muhammad. Additionally, human rights monitors report that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are widely abused and often used to settle personal scores or incite religious hatred.

Despite this abuse, the Christian community of Pakistan has stood in support of their Muslim compatriots and inter-faith harmony. This gesture of support can be a model of behavior that supports respect for all religions in all countries.

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