LBCI

Arrests in Pakistan after Christian couple lynched by mob

World News

05-11-2014 | 07:50

Share

Share

Arrests in Pakistan after Christian couple lynched by mob

2^min

Police in Pakistan arrested dozens of people on Wednesday after a mob beat a Christian couple to death and burned their bodies for allegedly desecrating a Koran.

Blasphemy is a serious offense in conservative Muslim Pakistan where those accused are sometimes lynched on the spot.

Local media reported the Christian couple were accused of burning a copy of the Koran and throwing it in a rubbish bin in the province of Punjab on Tuesday.

Police said their bodies were set on fire in a brick kiln.

"We have arrested 44 people, it was a local issue incited by the mullah of a local mosque," Jawad Qamar, a regional police chief, told Reuters.

"No particular sectarian group or religious outfit was behind the attack."

Blasphemy charges, even when they go to court, are punishable by death in Muslim-majority Pakistan. They are hard to fight because the law does not define clearly what is blasphemous. Presenting the evidence can sometimes itself be considered a fresh infringement.

Christians make up about four percent of Pakistan's population and tend to keep a low profile in a country where Sunni Muslim militants frequently bomb targets they see as heretical, including Christians, and Sufi and Shi'ite Muslims.

All of Pakistan's minorities feel that the state fails to protect them, and even tolerates violence against them.

Last month a British man with a history of mental health illness, sentenced to death for blasphemy earlier this year, was shot by a prison guard in his cell.

Also in October, a Pakistani court upheld the death penalty against a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who is also accused of blasphemy, in a case that drew global headlines after two prominent politicians who tried to help her were assassinated.

REUTERS

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Iran ready to dilute highly enriched uranium if all sanctions lifted: Nuclear chief

Middle East News

2026-02-09

Iran ready to dilute highly enriched uranium if all sanctions lifted: Nuclear chief

Israeli army issues evacuation warning for areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs

2026-04-05

Israeli army issues evacuation warning for areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs

Israel says FM Saar to attend Trump's 'Board of Peace' meeting

2026-02-17

Israel says FM Saar to attend Trump's 'Board of Peace' meeting

From land deal to disappearance: Lebanese probe into missing Ahmad Shukr

News Bulletin Reports

2026-01-05

From land deal to disappearance: Lebanese probe into missing Ahmad Shukr

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Health Ministry: Seven killed, including three children and two women, in Israeli strike on Ansar

1

Health Ministry: Seven killed, including three children and two women, in Israeli strike on Ansar

Hezbollah blames Netanyahu for escalation after strikes kill 11 in south Lebanon

2

Hezbollah blames Netanyahu for escalation after strikes kill 11 in south Lebanon

Israel says Lebanon strikes a response to Hezbollah ceasefire violation

3

Israel says Lebanon strikes a response to Hezbollah ceasefire violation

Six killed, two injured in airstrike in southern Lebanon as displacement reported in Nabatieh

4

Six killed, two injured in airstrike in southern Lebanon as displacement reported in Nabatieh

Health Ministry: 11 killed, 19 wounded in Israeli strikes on Deir el-Zahrani and Ansar

5

Health Ministry: 11 killed, 19 wounded in Israeli strikes on Deir el-Zahrani and Ansar

Speaker Berri: Israel disregards agreements as attacks in southern Lebanon continue

6

Speaker Berri: Israel disregards agreements as attacks in southern Lebanon continue

Israel wants 'more serious' talks with Lebanon: AFP

7

Israel wants 'more serious' talks with Lebanon: AFP

Major wildfire breaks out in Aitou forest in northern Lebanon: Video

8

Major wildfire breaks out in Aitou forest in northern Lebanon: Video

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More