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6 Pakistani Christians die in riots with Muslims
ISLAMABAD — Days of rioting between Christians and Muslims in eastern Pakistan following allegations that a Quran was defiled escalated Saturday, leaving six Christians dead, including a child, authorities said.
Members of a banned Muslim organization began torching Christian homes in the Punjabi city of Gora on Thursday after accusing them of desecrating pages from Islam’s holy book, Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti said.
“There is no truth in the allegation,” he told The Associated Press, adding that he had himself visited Gojra on Friday and asked police to provide protection to Christians who were facing threats.
He accused the police of ignoring his instructions and said hundreds of radical Muslims on Saturday burned more Christians homes and killed six, including four women and a child.
[…]
Another minister, Dost Mohammad Khosa, said the issue of the alleged desecration had been settled. “Today, somebody opened fire at a peaceful rally that was passing by a Christian neighborhood. That made things worse. We are sure some miscreant elements have tried to exploit the situation,” he said.
It is a pretty sad commentary that even the Federal Minister for Minorities feels that if there was “truth to the allegation” it would be seen as justification.
Update 8-2-09
BBC has updated with video. The number of deaths is 8.
(thanks to shadowman)
Tags: Riots
