Lahore (Press Release):
The Pakistan Catholic Bishops Conference, through its Human Rights body, the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), has vehemently condemned the horrific lynching of a man accused of desecrating the Holy Quran in Swat, Pakistan on June 20, 2024.
In a deeply troubling incident, a frenzied mob in the Madeen area of Swat Valley usurped the role of the judiciary, brutally lynching a Muslim man after accusing him of insulting the Holy Quran. The enraged crowd forcefully dragged the man from police custody and savagely beat him to death.
His Excellency Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference and Chairperson of NCJP, along with Rev. Fr. Bernard Emmanuel, National Director of NCJP, and Mr. Naeem Yousaf Gill, Executive Director of NCJP, issued a joint statement condemning the alarming rise of extrajudicial mob justice. They voiced their profound concerns, stating, “This barbaric attack starkly highlights the urgent need to address the systemic failures that allow such heinous incidents to occur.”
The leaders called for an immediate and robust policy response to counter this disturbing trend of mob violence, which tarnishes Pakistan’s reputation and undermines its social fabric. They implored the government and law enforcement agencies to enforce measures that genuinely protect all citizens and uphold the rule of law, ensuring justice is duly served. Additionally, they noted that such violent acts threaten the safety and security of the local population and pose a severe threat to tourism in the region, deterring visitors and harming the local economy. They also welcomed the Federal Minister for Defense Khawaja Asif and Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar who in their policy statements in the National Assembly of Pakistan, on June 23, 2024, voiced for the rights of religious minorities and highlighted the need to take concrete steps for the protection of religious minorities in Pakistan.
They urged authorities to take decisive and comprehensive action to prevent the recurrence of such tragic and unjust events, emphasizing that only through a steadfast commitment to justice can break the cycle of violence. (NCJP Media Team)
