Security in Pakistani Christian neighbourhood raised after couple’s death

A group of Muslims beat a Christian couple to death in Pakistan and burnt their bodies in the brick kiln where they worked on Tuesday for allegedly desecrating a Quran, police said. The incident took place at the town of Kot Radha Kishan, some 60 kilometres southwest of the city of Lahore, and is the latest example of mob violence against minorities accused of blasphemy. The incident was confirmed by two police officials. The victims, a married couple, were only identified by their first names, Shama and Shehzad. Further details about the allegedl act of desecration of Islam’s holy book were not immediately clear.

Yesterday an incident of desecration of the holy Quran took place in the area, and today the mob first beat the couple and later set their bodies on fire at a brick kiln.

Bin-Yameen, local police official

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in the majority Muslim country, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence. Anyone convicted, or even just accused, of insulting Islam, risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes. For example, a Christian woman has been on death row since November 2010, after she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed during an argument with a Muslim woman.

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