In 2023, false accusations of blasphemy triggered a Muslim mob attack against churches and Christian homes in Jaranwala, Pakistan. The impact is still felt in the Christian community, as Greg Musselman reports.
SCRIPT:
Jaranwala Report January, 2025
(sound up on video of attacks)
(font Jaranwala, Pakistan (bottom centre)
August, 16, 2023 (top left
A Muslim mob went on a rampage in the city of Jaranwala in Pakistan’s Punjab Province. The rioting started on August 16, 2023, after two Christian brothers, Raja and Rocky Masih were accused of desecrating the Quran and after two torn pages from the Muslim holy book were found in the Christian quarter. Muslim leaders using mosque loud speakers called for justice against the brothers, which quickly got out of control. 26 churches were burned and dozens of homes belonging to Christian families were damaged and destroyed and Bibles burned. The (video of riots in Jaranwala)
The two young men’s uncle, Pastor Irfan Bashir of the Shalom Church in Jaranwala says his nephews, who were later cleared of the blasphemy charges were set up (clip 1400)
i.q..1386 18:07-18:29
“I believe they are not guilty of this and the whole community knows we are serving people, prayerful people. This situation has been imposed on them.
(font Pastor Irfan Bashir
Shalom Church, Jaranwala, Pakistan)
After some of the Muslim leaders had called for a protest against the Christians, things escalated (Jarawala #1 video crowd gathered 1:03-1:10)
i.q..1370..17:20:10-17:20:54
(font Javed Masih
“The mob had gathered by using their cell phone and it crew to five to six thousand people and they started burning the houses. The Christians had already left that area early in the morning.”
Javed Masih who works at a gas station and his wife Samina who was pregnant at the time were able to flee the area(clip 1369 17:19:16 the family together, 3 shot)
Clip 1372 17:24:16-17:24:55
(font Samina Javed
“On the day of the incident, when we heard the news. Our daughters didn’t have any shoes or covering on their heads and they started running out of the house. They got to a rickshaw and the crowd tried to pull them out, but somehow the rickshaw driver was able to get them out and take them to a brickyard, and after that they went to a church and later to Faisalabad”.
The mob destroyed many Christian’s homes, but not their relationship with Jesus (1289, pan down shot)
Clip 1375 17:28:40-17:28:53
“We are strong in our faith, because we can say now that even if they do this again, we are not going to leave our houses, we are going to stay and tell them they can burn our houses and burn us too.”
Stand-up
i.q..(1406) 18:23:40..Members of the military
e.q…18:23:58..been traumatized.”
(font Greg Musselman
Jaranwala, Pakistan)
Members of the military and police were called here to try and stop the rampage, the emergency intervention seemed to work and settle down the protesters. In the days that followed the violence seemed to be abated. But there is deep-seated tension here and the Christian community has been traumatized.”
40-year-old Sobia )Sobey-au) (Ik-Ball)(cover with Sobia crying 1385 18:02:30) finds it difficult to talk about the event of August, 2023 that left her and her husband and two children homeless. Less than a year later her husband passed away. Sobia, now a widow finds it hard to be hopefully for the future(Sobia cover 1334-1337)
1385 i.q..18:03:44-18:03:51
(font Sobia Iqbal
House destroyed in August, 2003 Riots)
“Before the incident I was in my house and living a better life and after the incident I have no home.”
Rizwan David supports his wife and five children (Rizwan with his wife and children 1348) as a rickshaw driver and the events of the day are forever etched in his mind(1356 Rizwan on his rickshaw, sound up for 3 seconds)
Clip 1380 i.q…17:42:11-17:43:05
(font Rizwan David)
“On the day of the incident I was having breakfast and a lady came to our house and said the people are gathering and they are making plans to attack Christian houses. On hearing this we took our children and left.
“Later I came back in the evening and saw our house had been damaged and household items were taken away”. (damaged house 1353)
Clip 1380 i.q..17:44:09-17:45:09
“We didn’t bring our children back on that because we heard that some Muslims were planning something else on the coming Friday. We also had no place for them because the house was ashes.”
The Christians here, know that this kind of violence could happen again (1360 Christians in church)
Clip 1380 17:46:11-17:46:28
“ Because these people can’t forgive us, but our pastors teach us not to take revenge or fight, but these people don’t fear God and want to cause disturbances.”
Shafiq Masih and his wife Bilqeez and their two children are living in their badly damaged house, and wanting for it to be repaired as then continue to live their normal lives. (cover with Shafiq and his family 13:21, then video of his house 1312)
Shafiq who is a professional photographer stayed in the city while the riots continued that day and met with local officials to try and stop the attacks, but that that failed . (video from Jarawala 1 or 2, churches burning. NOTE: It’s okay to repeat video of the riots)
Clip 1376 i.q..17:31:01-17:31:35
(font Shafiq Masih)
“I stayed here all day. In the evening I saw four churches being burned and I was photographing it. Our family was the last to leave the Christian area. I stayed to try to stop the incident, but it didn’t happen, so finally, we had to leave.”
While Shafiq says while has forgiven those who caused the Christian community so much pain, it hasn’t been easy. But he says the Bible teaches that it is God who judges and not humans (1310 cover, Shafiq with Sunil)
Clip 1376 i.q..17:32:20-17:32:51
“I was very angry on that day because the people of the neighbourhood were all in the streets, they were shouting slogans (Jaranwala 1 1:45 (shouting)
I was very worried about my family, and where are we going to go and save our lives and where will I take them?.”
Bilqees says this ordeal (Bilqees (1322 17:00:17) was very hard for her two children (clip 1321) because they had birds, cats and a dog (clip 1321)
Clip 1378 17:37:10- 17:37:29“ This was a very cruel kind from the Muslim community. My children were very worried about their pets who were all burned in the fire.”
(font Bilqees Shafiq )
Clip 1379 i.q..17:39:30-17:40:40
Our children used to enjoy being with their friends and teachers at school, but after the incident we don’t see that joy with our children.”
Clip 1379 i.q…17:40:47-17:40:58
“We still face many things. People still try to effect and attack our faith, but it has not been effective.”
Clip 1386 i.q..18:08:36-18:09:16
“ I encourage our congregation and community through the Holy Bible. We see examples in how the prophets were being persecuted, like Daniel in the den of the lions. We motivate our congregation through incidents of persecution in the Bible. Suffering and pains are a necessity.”
(font Pastor Irfan Bashir
Shalom Church, Jaranwala, Pakistan)
The August 16, 2023 attack has deeply affected the Christian community, (photos of attack Jaran #1 church, women crying)but these young ladies are looking to the future with optimism and hope because of their relationship with Jesus and not dwelling on that terrible day. They also have a deeper understanding of the cost of following Christ (clip 1390)
Clip 1384 i.q…17:58:27-17:58:53
(font Moqadas Dilawar)
“When I saw all these things happening, I got angry and worried. When I saw the video of the churches burning (video of churches burning Jarawala 1 or 2) tears flowed down my eyes and I thought I must not live in this country anymore. But after that I got encouragement from the Holy Bible that Jesus said when you believe in me, people are going to curse you, therefore have faith because they are going to hate you because of my name.”
Clip 1382 i.q…17:52:32…After that incident..”
e.q..17:52:42…lot of hardship.”
(font Hina Shakeel)
“After that incident, I have seen that being a Christian in this community in Pakistan is kind of hard. You face a lot of hardship.”
i.q…17:52:51…Being a Christian..” (cover jump cut clip 1401 18:21:08)
e.q…17:52:55..with me always’
“Being a Christian gives me confidence that I have to do it, and Jesus is with me always.”
Sadia (saw-dee-au) So-hell is the sister of Rocky and Raja who were accused of blasphemy that sparked the violence, the brothers along with their father have gone into hiding and Sadia has no contact with them for safety reasons and doesn’t know if and when they will come back. (clip 1399 Sadia with baby, clip 1402 pastor speaking to ladies)
Clip 1388 18:11:24-18:11:43
(font Sadia Sohail)
“I feel very sorrowful, it’s painful that I can’t see my brothers and my father in the same house. We were all living together in that house. Now they are gone and I’m there without them.
The brothers uncle, Pastor Bashir says some good has come out of the attacks against the Christians in Jaranwala
1386 18:10:21- 18:18:40
“The good thing that happened after this incident, the Christian community in Jarin-wala have come together and are more united and strong in their faith. We now care for each other more.”
(Sadia Sohail) 1388 i.q…18:14:19-18:15:16
“I am a worship leader and when I came to Jarin-wala, most of the pastors didn’t recognize me as a worship leader, but after the incident, pastors here invited me to the churches and on many occasions and things are getting better for me. I visit many churches now and even government officials have assured me that I can stay here and be safe in my fathers house. So there is hope and security”.
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada along with our partners in Pakistan like Trust Pakistan are helping Christian families rebuild their houses and lives. (Sunil 1316)
Clip 1377 (Shafiq) 17:34:36-17:35:02 “Our family is very grateful for the support we received. For two months we had no electricity and meals were provided for us. They also provided household items, and we are grateful for that.
Sobia is also thankful that God is using Christians in Pakistan, Canada and other countries that are helping to restore damaged and destroyed houses like her’s. (1338 Sobia)
1385 i.q..18:04:23-:27 May God help me build my house. I can’t afford the rent anymore.”
Clip 1384 i.q..18:00:01-18:00:13
“I am very grateful and happy to know that people in western countries are supporting our community. We wouldn’t have opportunities , but now we have plenty of opportunities after the incident.”
Story Provided By:
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada
Producing Organization
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada
Recording Location
Jaranwala, Pakistan
Reporter / Producer
Greg Musselman
Organization featured in this Story
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada/ Trust Pakistan
People Interviewed and their Titles
Pastor Irfan Bashir
Shalom Church, Jaranwala, Pakistan
Javed Masih
Samina Javed
Greg Musselman
Jaranwala, Pakistan
Rizwan David
Shafiq Masih
Bilqees Shafiq
Hina Shakeel
Sadia Sohail Her two brothers and father are in hiding
Sobia Iqbal House destroyed in August 2003 Riots
Moqadas Dilawar
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