Pakistan: Christian leaders ask for forgiveness after protest lynchings
Christian leaders in Pakistan have asked for forgiveness after two men were lynched in retaliation for the bombing of two churches in Lahore last week.
The men who were killed were innocent of any involvement in the suicide bombings in the Youhanabad area, which saw at least 17 people killed and more than 80 wounded.
An enraged mob seized the two men, beat them and burned their bodies. More violent protests followed, with at least 25 more Christians killed during the demonstrations.
According to AsiaNews, Fr Emmanuel Yousaf Mani, director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Church of Pakistan, said in an interview at St John's Catholic Church, which was damaged in the Taliban attack: "We ask forgiveness for the reaction of the Christian community. "Preachers pray only for peace. We are not experts in anti-terrorism."
The vicar of Christ Church, Rev Irshad Ashknaz, told AsiaNews: "We can now only ask for forgiveness."
"We were present when the congregation was being attacked," he said. "Now what happened after the blasts is all over the news rather than the attacks themselves."
He said that those responsible for the mob violence must be brought to justice, but questioned the ability of the government to guarantee their safety if they were arrested.
The reaction of the Christian community, already under pressure in Pakistan because of systematic discrimination, has further stoked tensions with the majority Muslim community.
However, the attack on the churches, which is arguably an outcome of the ambivalent relationship Pakistan has had with the Afghan Taliban, has been condemned by Muslim leaders.
Mufti Muhammad Usman said: "It is the responsibility of the State to provide protection to the country's religious sites. The government has failed to protect Pakistan's minorities. Christians are not only a religious minority in this country, but are our brothers, part of the state, like Muslims.
"According to Islam, it is our responsibility to protect their lives and their property from all forms of terrorism."
