The Anglican Diocese of Leeds has issued the following statement regarding violence against Christians in Pakistan:
On Sunday, August 20 Pakistani Christians held services outside their churches destroyed by a vigilante mob on August 15 after two Christian brothers were accused of desecrating the Quran. Thousands of Muslims in the Jaranwala district of the city of Faisalabad set fire to at least four churches and vandalised the homes of many Christians.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by the recent violence against Christians in Pakistan.
The Rt Revd Aleem Anwar Bishop of Faisalabad is pictured visiting one of the churches attacked and destroyed in the violence.
During the Friday prayers at Leeds Makkah Mosque, Imam Qari Asim, Chair of the Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board and Senior Editor, ImamsOnline, along with many other mosques across the country, strongly condemned the vile and cowardly attacks on churches in Pakistan and prayed for the protection of all communities in Pakistan.
He said “It is against the established principles of Islam to desecrate any religious scripture or places of worship. People of all faiths should be free to worship without any restrictions or fear in Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan. An attack on any place of worship is an attack on all people of faiths. People of all faiths and beliefs must stand together and unite against all forms of intolerance, injustice, and terrorism.”
For nearly twenty years beginning in the former Anglican Diocese of Wakefield and now the Diocese of Leeds we have had a link with the Anglican Bishop of Faisalabad.
The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds and the five area bishops of the diocese have called for prayers and support for the Christians whose lives have been devastated by these violent acts. Bishop Nick said "We cry out for justice for our brothers and sisters. We appeal for greater law enforcement to protect innocent victims of mob violence. And pray that people of all faiths will respect and protect each other.”