<p>Armed assailants launched an attack on an Italian church in Istanbul claiming the life of one person, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.</p>

<p>The attack was carried out by two masked men at around 11:40 (0840 GMT) in the Sariyer district of Istanbul during a religious ceremony, Yerlikaya said.</p>

<p>He then added that a probe has&nbsp;been launched into the incident.</p>

<p>The minister, sharing details about the deceased said that the individual identified as C.T. lost his life in the armed attack while attending Sunday's service.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="tr">Bugün Saat 11.40 sıralarında<br />
Sarıyer Büyükdere Mahallesinde bulunan Santa Maria Kilisesindeki ayin sırasında,<br />
ayine katılanlar içinde bulunan C.T.<br />
maskeli 2 kişi tarafından silahlı saldırıya uğramış<br />
ve maalesef hayatını kaybetmiştir.<br />
<br />
Konuyla ilgi geniş çaplı soruşturma ve…</p>
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) <a href="https://twitter.com/AliYerlikaya/status/1751544783397392764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"C.T., who was among those participating in the service, was the target of a gun attack by two masked individuals and sadly lost his life," the minister said on social media platform X, referring to the initials of the victim.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-splash-soup-on-glass-protected-mona-lisa-in-paris-684508">Watch | Protesters splash soup at iconic Mona Lisa painting in Paris</a></p>

<p>"We strongly condemn this vile attack," he added.</p>

<p>Turkish officials released a statement saying that the assault looked like targetted killing rather than an attack against the Catholic church.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local officials said that around 40 people attended the mass, and suggested that there could have been more casualties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"After the second shot, the gun didn't work, then they (attackers) ran. At this moment, everyone lied on the floor. There were around 35 to 40 people inside," Sariyer district's mayor Sukru Genc told reporters.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expresses condolences&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Turkish President Erdogan expressed condolences over the attack during a phone call with the priest of the Italian church and other local officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He assured that "necessary steps are being taken to catch the perpetrators as soon as possible", according to his office.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Italian minister 'firmly condemns' attack</strong></h2>

<p>The Italian foreign minister denounced the attack backing the Turkish authorities to find the killers.</p>

<p>Antonio Tajani said he expressed his "condolences and firm condemnation" over the attack</p>

<h2><strong>Pope expresses support&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his support for the Catholic church after the attack, at&nbsp;the end of his weekly Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.</p>

<p>"I express my closeness to the community of the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul," the Argentine pope said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Armed assailants launched an attack on an Italian church in Istanbul claiming the life of one person, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The attack was carried out by two masked men at around 11:40 (0840 GMT) in the Sariyer district of Istanbul during a religious ceremony, Yerlikaya said.

Armed assailants launched an attack on an Italian church in Istanbul claiming the life of one person, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The attack was carried out by two masked men at around 11:40 (0840 GMT) in the Sariyer district of Istanbul during a religious ceremony, Yerlikaya said. He then added that a probe has been launched into the incident. The minister, sharing details about the deceased said that the individual identified as C.T. lost his life in the armed attack while attending Sunday's service. Bugün Saat 11.40 sıralarında Sarıyer Büyükdere Mahallesinde bulunan Santa Maria Kilisesindeki ayin sırasında, ayine katılanlar içinde bulunan C.T. maskeli 2 kişi tarafından silahlı saldırıya uğramış ve maalesef hayatını kaybetmiştir. Konuyla ilgi geniş çaplı soruşturma ve… — Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) January 28, 2024 × "C.T., who was among those participating in the service, was the target of a gun attack by two masked individuals and sadly lost his life," the minister said on social media platform X, referring to the initials of the victim. Also read: Watch | Protesters splash soup at iconic Mona Lisa painting in Paris "We strongly condemn this vile attack," he added. Turkish officials released a statement saying that the assault looked like targetted killing rather than an attack against the Catholic church. Local officials said that around 40 people attended the mass, and suggested that there could have been more casualties. "After the second shot, the gun didn't work, then they (attackers) ran. At this moment, everyone lied on the floor. There were around 35 to 40 people inside," Sariyer district's mayor Sukru Genc told reporters. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expresses condolences Turkish President Erdogan expressed condolences over the attack during a phone call with the priest of the Italian church and other local officials. He assured that "necessary steps are being taken to catch the perpetrators as soon as possible", according to his office. Italian minister 'firmly condemns' attack The Italian foreign minister denounced the attack backing the Turkish authorities to find the killers. Antonio Tajani said he expressed his "condolences and firm condemnation" over the attack Pope expresses support Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his support for the Catholic church after the attack, at the end of his weekly Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. "I express my closeness to the community of the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul," the Argentine pope said. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey: One killed in armed attack on Italian church in Istanbul

<p>An Italian church was attacked in Istanbul during a religious ceremony on Sunday (Jan 28). At the time of filing this report, at least one person is reported dead, the interior minister in President Erdogan's administration confirmed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The attack occurred at around 11:40 (GMT: 0840) in the Sariyer district of Istanbul and was carried out by two masked men, Ali Yerlikaya said on social media, adding an investigation had been launched.</p>

<p><em>This is a breaking story. More information will be added soon.</em></p>


An Italian church was attacked in Istanbul during a religious ceremony on Sunday (Jan 28). At the time of filing this report, at least one person is reported dead, the interior minister in President Erdogan's administration confirmed.

An Italian church was attacked in Istanbul during a religious ceremony on Sunday (Jan 28). At the time of filing this report, at least one person is reported dead, the interior minister in President Erdogan's administration confirmed. The attack occurred at around 11:40 (GMT: 0840) in the Sariyer district of Istanbul and was carried out by two masked men, Ali Yerlikaya said on social media, adding an investigation had been launched. This is a breaking story. More information will be added soon.

Turkey: One killed in Istanbul after armed attack on Italian church

<p>Two Christian brothers were arrested in Pakistan for the alleged desecration of the holy book Quran, which had sparked deadly riots in Jaranwala, Reuters reported quoting police.</p>

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<p dir="ltr">Police found torn pages of Quaran in the street which allegedly had derogatory comments written on them in red, police said on Friday (Aug 18).&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Another page carried the names, addresses and national identity card numbers of the accused, provincial police chief Usman Anwar said, according to Reuters.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, a court has ordered the two suspects to be held in police custody for seven days for questioning.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Police are investigating as to why the names and addresses were written on it, Anwar told Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Blasphemy laws are quite strict in Pakistan, with the maximum punishment attracting the death penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Violence continued for 10 hours</strong></h2>

<p dir="ltr">Though acts of blasphemy have been reported many times in Pakistan, those accused have not faced capital punishment. But the perpetrators have been lynched by outraged mobs.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">A former provincial governor and a minister for minorities were shot dead for trying to reform the blasphemy law.</p>

<h2>Pakistan church attacks: Rights groups demand&nbsp;justice</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-church-attacks-rights-groups-demands-justice-626529/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p dir="ltr">On Wednesday, hundreds of people from the Islam faith ransacked and set six churches on fire in a predominantly Christian area on the outskirts of the industrial city after allegations spread that the Holy Quran had been desecrated.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The mob also desecrated a Christian graveyard and set the belongings of Christians' houses on fire.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Several people claimed to have seen Muslims led by local clerics carrying iron rods, sticks and daggers during the violence.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/anti-christian-riots-in-pakistan-80-homes-19-churches-ravaged-by-islamists-626804">Anti-Christian riots in Pakistan: 80 homes, 19 churches ravaged by Islamists</a></p>

<p dir="ltr">For 10 hours, the chaos continued unabated with the police remaining silent spectators on the scene, local people told Reuters.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/over-100-arrested-600-booked-with-terrorism-charges-after-pakistan-mob-attacks-churches-626412">Over 120 arrested, 600 booked on terrorism charges after Pakistan mob attacks churches</a></p>

<p dir="ltr">The police have, however, denied that, saying they prevented even worse damage.</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Interim PM vows to protect minority&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p dir="ltr">On Friday, while addressing the cabinet, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar assured that their interim government will protect the minorities and that they would not let forces of darkness to rule.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"The minorities will stay protected in this country. There may be an attempt to harm them from a section of the marginalised and peripheral group of people, but that would be responded sternly and strictly," Kakar said during his maiden federal cabinet meeting.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"Pakistani state and society [do] not align with such elements. They may be from us but they are divorced from us, they are divorced from our identity process. We do not stand for the forces of darkness," the interim prime minister said.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Police have so far arrested at least 128 people involved in the mob attack against the churches.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Two Christian brothers were arrested in Pakistan for the alleged desecration of the holy book Quran, which had sparked deadly riots in Jaranwala, Reuters reported quoting police.

Two Christian brothers were arrested in Pakistan for the alleged desecration of the holy book Quran, which had sparked deadly riots in Jaranwala, Reuters reported quoting police. Police found torn pages of Quaran in the street which allegedly had derogatory comments written on them in red, police said on Friday (Aug 18). Another page carried the names, addresses and national identity card numbers of the accused, provincial police chief Usman Anwar said, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, a court has ordered the two suspects to be held in police custody for seven days for questioning. Police are investigating as to why the names and addresses were written on it, Anwar told Reuters. Blasphemy laws are quite strict in Pakistan, with the maximum punishment attracting the death penalty. Violence continued for 10 hours Though acts of blasphemy have been reported many times in Pakistan, those accused have not faced capital punishment. But the perpetrators have been lynched by outraged mobs. A former provincial governor and a minister for minorities were shot dead for trying to reform the blasphemy law. Pakistan church attacks: Rights groups demand justice On Wednesday, hundreds of people from the Islam faith ransacked and set six churches on fire in a predominantly Christian area on the outskirts of the industrial city after allegations spread that the Holy Quran had been desecrated. The mob also desecrated a Christian graveyard and set the belongings of Christians' houses on fire. Several people claimed to have seen Muslims led by local clerics carrying iron rods, sticks and daggers during the violence. Also read | Anti-Christian riots in Pakistan: 80 homes, 19 churches ravaged by Islamists For 10 hours, the chaos continued unabated with the police remaining silent spectators on the scene, local people told Reuters. Also read | Over 120 arrested, 600 booked on terrorism charges after Pakistan mob attacks churches The police have, however, denied that, saying they prevented even worse damage. Interim PM vows to protect minority On Friday, while addressing the cabinet, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar assured that their interim government will protect the minorities and that they would not let forces of darkness to rule. "The minorities will stay protected in this country. There may be an attempt to harm them from a section of the marginalised and peripheral group of people, but that would be responded sternly and strictly," Kakar said during his maiden federal cabinet meeting. "Pakistani state and society [do] not align with such elements. They may be from us but they are divorced from us, they are divorced from our identity process. We do not stand for the forces of darkness," the interim prime minister said. Police have so far arrested at least 128 people involved in the mob attack against the churches. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Two Christian brothers arrested for blasphemy that led to riots in Pakistan’s Jaranwala

<p>More than 100 people were arrested and at least 600 booked in two terror cases in the aftermath of the torching and ransacking of churches in eastern Pakistan city, police said on Thursday (Aug 17).</p>

<p>Jaranwala police chief Rizwan Khan said that 129 suspects had been arrested so far.</p>

<p>At least five churches came under attack in Jaranwala city of Faisalabad district on Wednesday, following claims that two Christian men desecrated the holy Quran.</p>

<p>Though the two men accused of damaging the Quran, Islam's holy book, have not been arrested, they have been charged with blasphemy, which is punishable by death in Pakistan.</p>

<p>So far, no casualties have been reported, the authorities said.</p>

<h2><strong>Situation tense on ground&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The situation still remained tense on the ground in Jaranwala, but the local media reports indicated that life was coming back to normal with Christians slowly returning to their homes.</p>

<p>The district authorities have imposed Section 144 for seven days, prohibiting all kinds of assembly, except for events organised by the government.</p>

<p>Media reports said that at least one church was burning on Thursday and four others were also damaged.</p>

<p>“This was a well thought out plan to disrupt peace and a high-level investigation is underway regarding the desecration of the Holy Quran and incidents that take place afterwards,” a spokesperson for the provincial government of Punjab said in a statement.</p>

<p>At least two dozen homes belonging to Christian families were torched or badly damaged during the riots.</p>

<h2><strong>Punjab interim CM vows to restore churches&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier in the day, the Punjab government ordered the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident, in line with directives issued by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq.</p>

<p>Addressing the reporters, Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi vowed to restore all the churches and Christians’ homes within three to four days.</p>

<p>He also condemned Wednesday’s violence and described such incidents as anti-Islam and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-state-department-expresses-concern-over-attacks-on-christian-community-in-pakistan-626235">US State Department expresses concern over attacks on Christian community in Pakistan</a></p>

<p>“For the future, we should sit with our minorities and chalk out a plan to prevent such incidents,” he stressed, urging religious leaders to spread the message of the Holy Quran among the people.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, the US urged Pakistan to investigate the mob attacks against churches and Christian homes.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-mob-of-thousands-burns-churches-attacks-christian-colonies-sequence-of-events-626139">Pakistan: Mob of thousands burns churches, attacks Christian colonies | Sequence of events</a></p>

<p>“We are deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Quran desecration in Pakistan,” the State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


More than 100 people were arrested and at least 600 booked in two terror cases in the aftermath of the torching and ransacking of churches in eastern Pakistan city, police said on Thursday (Aug 17).

More than 100 people were arrested and at least 600 booked in two terror cases in the aftermath of the torching and ransacking of churches in eastern Pakistan city, police said on Thursday (Aug 17). Jaranwala police chief Rizwan Khan said that 129 suspects had been arrested so far. At least five churches came under attack in Jaranwala city of Faisalabad district on Wednesday, following claims that two Christian men desecrated the holy Quran. Though the two men accused of damaging the Quran, Islam's holy book, have not been arrested, they have been charged with blasphemy, which is punishable by death in Pakistan. So far, no casualties have been reported, the authorities said. Situation tense on ground The situation still remained tense on the ground in Jaranwala, but the local media reports indicated that life was coming back to normal with Christians slowly returning to their homes. The district authorities have imposed Section 144 for seven days, prohibiting all kinds of assembly, except for events organised by the government. Media reports said that at least one church was burning on Thursday and four others were also damaged. “This was a well thought out plan to disrupt peace and a high-level investigation is underway regarding the desecration of the Holy Quran and incidents that take place afterwards,” a spokesperson for the provincial government of Punjab said in a statement. At least two dozen homes belonging to Christian families were torched or badly damaged during the riots. Punjab interim CM vows to restore churches Earlier in the day, the Punjab government ordered the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident, in line with directives issued by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq. Addressing the reporters, Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi vowed to restore all the churches and Christians’ homes within three to four days. He also condemned Wednesday’s violence and described such incidents as anti-Islam and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet. Also read | US State Department expresses concern over attacks on Christian community in Pakistan “For the future, we should sit with our minorities and chalk out a plan to prevent such incidents,” he stressed, urging religious leaders to spread the message of the Holy Quran among the people. On Wednesday, the US urged Pakistan to investigate the mob attacks against churches and Christian homes. Also read | Pakistan: Mob of thousands burns churches, attacks Christian colonies | Sequence of events “We are deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Quran desecration in Pakistan,” the State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Over 120 arrested, 600 booked on terrorism charges after Pakistan mob attacks churches

<p>A charged mob of around 7,000 people stormed a Christian colony in the Jaranwala Tehsil of Faisalabad district on Wednesday morning, where they ransacked several buildings and set multiple churches on fire over blasphemy allegations, locals and police said.</p>

<p>The incident was widely condemned by Pakistan's Christian community, political leaders and rights groups while Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar promised stern action against perpetrators.</p>

<h2><strong>What happened?</strong></h2>

<p>The situation became tense in Jaranwala on Wednesday (August 16) morning when crowds gathered and announcements were made from mosques that some pages of religious scripture had been desecrated.</p>

<p>Soon, a large mob gathered near the Christian colony at Cinema Chowk, accusing two local Christians of desecrating the Holy Quran.</p>

<p>Local police arrived on the scene and attempted to placate the charged group that was growing into a mob. Videos shared showed a police officer assuring the crowd that they would apprehend those responsible, two local Christian residents alias Rocky and Raja, and that they would ensure they are persecuted as per the law.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Pakistan: Mob attack on Church in Faisalabad following Blasphemy allegations on Christian family</strong></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, other videos showed announcements being made from the mosques in the area, inciting 'Muslims' to come out of their homes and take action.</p>

<p>The gathering mob and hateful speeches and slogans raised caused fear and panic to spread through the area, with the local markets shut down while hundreds of residents of the Christian colony forced to flee to safety. Locals said that some 500 families living in three Christian settlements had fled the area.</p>

<p>Armed mobs meandered through the streets to the lane where the desecrated pages were allegedly spotted by a woman earlier, and attacked a local church and adjoining residential buildings.</p>

<p>The mob ransacked and torched at least five churches in the vicinity, including a Salvation Army Church - which is one of the oldest churches in the area - apart from two other Salvation Army churches, one belonging to the FGA and some Presbyterian churches as well.</p>

<p><img alt="Pakistan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="99fa30a6-c9fd-4e48-b6ad-5e746d156346" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2023-08-16T141442Z_1_LYNXMPEJ7F0K4_RTROPTP_4_PAKISTAN-BLASPHEMY-VIOLENCE.JPG" /></p>

<p><em>(Image: Reuters)</em></p>

<p>Furniture from inside buildings in the colony was piled into the street and set ablaze. Some Christian activists stated that some homes in the colony were also set ablaze while several copies of Bible&nbsp;were also desecrated.</p>

<p>There were reports of other buildings and private property being damaged but a complete estimate of the damage will be available once investigators&nbsp;gain access and complete survey of damaged properties is carried out.</p>

<p>Later, the mob gathered at Mehtab Masjid near Cinema Chowk and raised slogans in favour of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Khatam-e-Nabuwat apart from demanding the execution of the culprits.</p>

<p>However, there were no reports of any casualties.</p>

<p>Locals claimed that if police had acted in time, the situation would not have gotten out of hand.</p>

<h2><strong>The police action</strong></h2>

<p>While police squads deployed around the Christian colony were insufficient to prevent the mob from vandalising the churches and other private property, a significantly larger contingent of Punjab police arrived in Jaranwala to control the situation later.</p>

<p>Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar and Punjab Chief Secretary have reached Jaranwala to take stock of the situation. The Faisalabad city administration also sought deployment of Rangers, a paramilitary force to control the situation.</p>

<p>IGP Dr Anwar said that they have deployed around 6,500 police officers in the area and are now 'in control' of the situation.</p>

<p>He added that a mob of around 7,000 people, including activists of the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were also part of the mob who attacked the Christian colony and churches.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, a notification stated that the assistant commissioner assigned to Jaranwala, Christian Shaukat Masih, had been suspended and directed to report to the Administration Wing for further orders. Rana Aurangzeb, the assistant commissioner of Tandianwala, was directed to oversee affairs in Jaranwala as an additional charge for three months.</p>

<h2><strong>Condemnation</strong></h2>

<p>The incident was condemned by the Christian community, human rights organisations, political leaders and the caretaker prime minister.</p>

<p>Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the incidents of Jaranwala "sad" and "disturbing".</p>

<p>"All religious places, Holy Books and personages are sacred and deserve our highest level of respect," he said, urging the government to take action against the culprits.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What is happening in Jaranwala is sad and disturbing. There is no place for violence in any religion. All religious places, Holy Books and personages are sacred and deserve our highest level of respect. I urge the government to take action against the culprits. I also appeal to…</p>
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1691799948558303631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Azad Marshall, the president of Bishop Church of Pakistan, condemned the incident.</p>

<p>"Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan," he wrote, adding that a Church building was burnt while Bibles have been desecrated while Christians have been tortured and harassed.</p>

<p>"We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been… <a href="https://t.co/xruE83NPXL">pic.twitter.com/xruE83NPXL</a></p>
— Bishop Azad Marshall (@BishopAzadM) <a href="https://twitter.com/BishopAzadM/status/1691729068889354251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Meanwhile, the National Commission for Human Rights said that many Christian families have gone into hiding and that the situation is "sad and shameful".</p>

<p>"Blasphemy laws have repeatedly been misused with impunity. Police must take swift and strong against perpetrators of this violence," it said in a statement.</p>

<p>In a separate statement, the Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) said that the mob-led assault on Christian families and their homes and sites of worship in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, following allegations of blasphemy, must be "condemned in no uncertain terms."</p>

<p>"The frequency and scale of such attacks—which are systematic, violent and often uncontainable—appear to have increased in the last several years," it said, adding that Not only has the state failed to protect its religious minorities, but it has also allowed the far right to permeate and fester within society and politics.</p>

<p>HRCP demanded that perpetrators and instigators of this violence must be identified and punished to the full extent of the law and that the government must waste no time in raising and equipping special police forces to protect religious minorities’ sites of worship as directed by the 2014 Supreme Court judgment.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">4 churches burnt, three belonging to Salvation Army &amp; one FGA church. Countless Bibles burnt, many families in hiding. Situation is sad &amp; shameful. Blasphemy laws have repeatedly been misused with impunity. Police must take swift &amp; strong against perpetrators of this violence. <a href="https://t.co/B077d0Q0nf">https://t.co/B077d0Q0nf</a></p>
— National Commission for Human Rights (@nchrofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/nchrofficial/status/1691792882678530431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>In a statement, civil society organisation Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) also condemned the attack. CSJ's Executive Director Peter Jacob demanded the Punjab government to act fast to address lawlessness.</p>

<p>"There has been an exponential increase in the abuse of blasphemy laws in the on-going year," Jacob said, adding, "Till August 16, 2023, some198 people had been accused [of blasphemy] with 85% of victims Muslims, 9% Ahmadis and 4.4% Christian."</p>

<p>He noted that in July, strife with the Christian community was seen in Sargodha.</p>

<p>"Today, five churches and dozens of houses have been vandalized, destroyed. Hundreds of Christians have fled their homes from the Christian colonies of Issa Nagari, and Nasrat Colony, in Jaranwala," he lamented.</p>

<h2><strong>PM orders action</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar stated that stern action would be taken against those who violate the law and target minorities.</p>

<p>His statement on X&nbsp;added that all law enforcement organisations have been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on equal basis."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Faisalabad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Faisalabad</a>. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands… <a href="https://t.co/GHWUGA1NNq">https://t.co/GHWUGA1NNq</a></p>
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) <a href="https://twitter.com/anwaar_kakar/status/1691786525120589852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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A charged mob of around 7,000 people stormed a Christian colony in the Jaranwala Tehsil of Faisalabad district on Wednesday morning, where they ransacked several buildings and set multiple churches on fire over blasphemy allegations, locals and police said.

A charged mob of around 7,000 people stormed a Christian colony in the Jaranwala Tehsil of Faisalabad district on Wednesday morning, where they ransacked several buildings and set multiple churches on fire over blasphemy allegations, locals and police said. The incident was widely condemned by Pakistan's Christian community, political leaders and rights groups while Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar promised stern action against perpetrators. What happened? The situation became tense in Jaranwala on Wednesday (August 16) morning when crowds gathered and announcements were made from mosques that some pages of religious scripture had been desecrated. Soon, a large mob gathered near the Christian colony at Cinema Chowk, accusing two local Christians of desecrating the Holy Quran. Local police arrived on the scene and attempted to placate the charged group that was growing into a mob. Videos shared showed a police officer assuring the crowd that they would apprehend those responsible, two local Christian residents alias Rocky and Raja, and that they would ensure they are persecuted as per the law. Watch | Pakistan: Mob attack on Church in Faisalabad following Blasphemy allegations on Christian family × Meanwhile, other videos showed announcements being made from the mosques in the area, inciting 'Muslims' to come out of their homes and take action. The gathering mob and hateful speeches and slogans raised caused fear and panic to spread through the area, with the local markets shut down while hundreds of residents of the Christian colony forced to flee to safety. Locals said that some 500 families living in three Christian settlements had fled the area. Armed mobs meandered through the streets to the lane where the desecrated pages were allegedly spotted by a woman earlier, and attacked a local church and adjoining residential buildings. The mob ransacked and torched at least five churches in the vicinity, including a Salvation Army Church - which is one of the oldest churches in the area - apart from two other Salvation Army churches, one belonging to the FGA and some Presbyterian churches as well. (Image: Reuters) Furniture from inside buildings in the colony was piled into the street and set ablaze. Some Christian activists stated that some homes in the colony were also set ablaze while several copies of Bible were also desecrated. There were reports of other buildings and private property being damaged but a complete estimate of the damage will be available once investigators gain access and complete survey of damaged properties is carried out. Later, the mob gathered at Mehtab Masjid near Cinema Chowk and raised slogans in favour of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Khatam-e-Nabuwat apart from demanding the execution of the culprits. However, there were no reports of any casualties. Locals claimed that if police had acted in time, the situation would not have gotten out of hand. The police action While police squads deployed around the Christian colony were insufficient to prevent the mob from vandalising the churches and other private property, a significantly larger contingent of Punjab police arrived in Jaranwala to control the situation later. Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar and Punjab Chief Secretary have reached Jaranwala to take stock of the situation. The Faisalabad city administration also sought deployment of Rangers, a paramilitary force to control the situation. IGP Dr Anwar said that they have deployed around 6,500 police officers in the area and are now 'in control' of the situation. He added that a mob of around 7,000 people, including activists of the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were also part of the mob who attacked the Christian colony and churches. Meanwhile, a notification stated that the assistant commissioner assigned to Jaranwala, Christian Shaukat Masih, had been suspended and directed to report to the Administration Wing for further orders. Rana Aurangzeb, the assistant commissioner of Tandianwala, was directed to oversee affairs in Jaranwala as an additional charge for three months. Condemnation The incident was condemned by the Christian community, human rights organisations, political leaders and the caretaker prime minister. Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the incidents of Jaranwala "sad" and "disturbing". "All religious places, Holy Books and personages are sacred and deserve our highest level of respect," he said, urging the government to take action against the culprits. What is happening in Jaranwala is sad and disturbing. There is no place for violence in any religion. All religious places, Holy Books and personages are sacred and deserve our highest level of respect. I urge the government to take action against the culprits. I also appeal to… — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 16, 2023 × Azad Marshall, the president of Bishop Church of Pakistan, condemned the incident. "Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan," he wrote, adding that a Church building was burnt while Bibles have been desecrated while Christians have been tortured and harassed. "We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom." Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been… pic.twitter.com/xruE83NPXL — Bishop Azad Marshall (@BishopAzadM) August 16, 2023 × Meanwhile, the National Commission for Human Rights said that many Christian families have gone into hiding and that the situation is "sad and shameful". "Blasphemy laws have repeatedly been misused with impunity. Police must take swift and strong against perpetrators of this violence," it said in a statement. In a separate statement, the Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) said that the mob-led assault on Christian families and their homes and sites of worship in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, following allegations of blasphemy, must be "condemned in no uncertain terms." "The frequency and scale of such attacks—which are systematic, violent and often uncontainable—appear to have increased in the last several years," it said, adding that Not only has the state failed to protect its religious minorities, but it has also allowed the far right to permeate and fester within society and politics. HRCP demanded that perpetrators and instigators of this violence must be identified and punished to the full extent of the law and that the government must waste no time in raising and equipping special police forces to protect religious minorities’ sites of worship as directed by the 2014 Supreme Court judgment. 4 churches burnt, three belonging to Salvation Army & one FGA church. Countless Bibles burnt, many families in hiding. Situation is sad & shameful. Blasphemy laws have repeatedly been misused with impunity. Police must take swift & strong against perpetrators of this violence. https://t.co/B077d0Q0nf — National Commission for Human Rights (@nchrofficial) August 16, 2023 × In a statement, civil society organisation Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) also condemned the attack. CSJ's Executive Director Peter Jacob demanded the Punjab government to act fast to address lawlessness. "There has been an exponential increase in the abuse of blasphemy laws in the on-going year," Jacob said, adding, "Till August 16, 2023, some198 people had been accused [of blasphemy] with 85% of victims Muslims, 9% Ahmadis and 4.4% Christian." He noted that in July, strife with the Christian community was seen in Sargodha. "Today, five churches and dozens of houses have been vandalized, destroyed. Hundreds of Christians have fled their homes from the Christian colonies of Issa Nagari, and Nasrat Colony, in Jaranwala," he lamented. PM orders action Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar stated that stern action would be taken against those who violate the law and target minorities. His statement on X added that all law enforcement organisations have been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice. "Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on equal basis." I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,#Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands… https://t.co/GHWUGA1NNq — Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) August 16, 2023 × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Pakistan: Mob of thousands burns churches, attacks Christian colonies | Sequence of events

<p>Hundreds of people, armed with sticks and batons, stormed a local Christian colony in the Jaranwala area of Faisalabad,&nbsp;one of the wealthiest and most industrialised cities&nbsp;in Pakistan, on Wednesday (August 16)&nbsp;morning and attacked two&nbsp;churches and adjoining buildings over what they claimed was blasphemy allegedly committed by a local resident.</p>

<p>One church was set on fire while the mob tried to vandalise another.</p>

<p>The attack sparked fear and panic in&nbsp;the area. Shops in the local market were shut as armed mobs roamed the streets.</p>

<p>Videos and messages from locals suggested that&nbsp;loudspeakers of mosques were used to convey alleged desecration of religious scriptures by two local Christian residents, Rocky and Raja.</p>

<p>Though&nbsp;a heavy contingent of police reached the area and assured the swelling mob that the suspects would be apprehended and would face action as per the law, the&nbsp;crowds proceeded to attack the colony.</p>

<p>The government of Pakistan's&nbsp;Punjab province called in Pakistani Rangers to control the violent situation. There are reports that churches and members of the minority Christian community are being attacked at different locations across the city.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Pakistan: Mob attack on Church in Faisalabad following Blasphemy allegations on Christian family</strong></p>

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<p>Christian residents of the area appeared to have fled.</p>

<p>The Salvation Army Church, the church the mob tried to vandalise, is one of the oldest churches&nbsp;in the area.<br />
<br />
A Christian leader, Akmal Bhatti, said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses that had been abandoned by their owners after clerics made announcements in mosques inciting the mob, said a Dawn report.</p>

<p>Images on social media showed smoke rising from church buildings and people dragging out furniture from them and setting it fire on. A Christian cemetery was also vandalised, the report added.<br />
<br />
Police registered an first information report against the blasphemy accused under sections 295B (defiling, etc., of the Holy Quran) and 295C (use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet) of the Pakistan Penal Code.</p>

<p>Pakistan's caretaker PM Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has taken note on the incident and posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that those guilty would be punished.</p>

<p>"I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,#Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits &amp; bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on equal basis," Kakar posted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Faisalabad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Faisalabad</a>. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits &amp; bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands… <a href="https://t.co/GHWUGA1fXS">https://t.co/GHWUGA1fXS</a></p>
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) <a href="https://twitter.com/anwaar_kakar/status/1691777275975352499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Kakar was responding to the post on X by Bishop Azad Marshall, who is the President Bishop of Church of Pakistan. Marshall had expressed his anguish over the violence.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been… <a href="https://t.co/xruE83NPXL">pic.twitter.com/xruE83NPXL</a></p>
— Bishop Azad Marshall (@BishopAzadM) <a href="https://twitter.com/BishopAzadM/status/1691729068889354251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>While an FIR has been registered under blasphemy allegations of Article 295-C, the situation in the area remains tense.&nbsp;Police are trying to get the situation under their control.</p>

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Hundreds of people, armed with sticks and batons, stormed a local Christian colony in the Jaranwala area of Faisalabad, one of the wealthiest and most industrialised cities in Pakistan, on Wednesday (August 16) morning and attacked two churches and adjoining buildings over what they claimed was blasphemy allegedly committed by a local resident.

Hundreds of people, armed with sticks and batons, stormed a local Christian colony in the Jaranwala area of Faisalabad, one of the wealthiest and most industrialised cities in Pakistan, on Wednesday (August 16) morning and attacked two churches and adjoining buildings over what they claimed was blasphemy allegedly committed by a local resident. One church was set on fire while the mob tried to vandalise another. The attack sparked fear and panic in the area. Shops in the local market were shut as armed mobs roamed the streets. Videos and messages from locals suggested that loudspeakers of mosques were used to convey alleged desecration of religious scriptures by two local Christian residents, Rocky and Raja. Though a heavy contingent of police reached the area and assured the swelling mob that the suspects would be apprehended and would face action as per the law, the crowds proceeded to attack the colony. The government of Pakistan's Punjab province called in Pakistani Rangers to control the violent situation. There are reports that churches and members of the minority Christian community are being attacked at different locations across the city. Watch | Pakistan: Mob attack on Church in Faisalabad following Blasphemy allegations on Christian family × Christian residents of the area appeared to have fled. The Salvation Army Church, the church the mob tried to vandalise, is one of the oldest churches in the area. A Christian leader, Akmal Bhatti, said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses that had been abandoned by their owners after clerics made announcements in mosques inciting the mob, said a Dawn report. Images on social media showed smoke rising from church buildings and people dragging out furniture from them and setting it fire on. A Christian cemetery was also vandalised, the report added. Police registered an first information report against the blasphemy accused under sections 295B (defiling, etc., of the Holy Quran) and 295C (use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Pakistan's caretaker PM Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has taken note on the incident and posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that those guilty would be punished. "I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,#Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits & bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on equal basis," Kakar posted. I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,#Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits & bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands… https://t.co/GHWUGA1fXS — Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) August 16, 2023 × Kakar was responding to the post on X by Bishop Azad Marshall, who is the President Bishop of Church of Pakistan. Marshall had expressed his anguish over the violence. Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been… pic.twitter.com/xruE83NPXL — Bishop Azad Marshall (@BishopAzadM) August 16, 2023 × While an FIR has been registered under blasphemy allegations of Article 295-C, the situation in the area remains tense. Police are trying to get the situation under their control. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Churches attacked in Pakistan's Faisalabad over blasphemy allegations

<p>The Palm Sunday serial suicide attacks are the worst in Sri Lanka’s history, shattering its ten-year long tryst with freedom from terrorism following a 30-year civil war which ended in May 2009. Sri Lanka has known 539 suicide attacks by Tamil Tigers on land, at sea and in the air. The latest attacks have revived the ghosts of domestic wars fought with the Marxist JVP and secessionist Tamil Tigers and will have a long term impact on politics and society. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The economy already under stress, is expected to take a big hit. Worse, a dysfunctional government shows no signs of getting its act together as President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe remain at loggerheads.&nbsp;A stable and alert government could have avoided the Palm Sunday tragedy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As it struggles to conquer the trauma, horror and loss after the attacks that left over 350 dead, it is clear that they carry the IS signature and a connect between the IS hub in the Maldives and the local radical Thowheed Jamath&nbsp;is being made. Seven local Muslim suicide bombers could not have been born overnight. Sri Lanka is also coming to terms with reality: that it could take months, maybe up to a year, for the economy of the Island state to recover; that religious friction never seen before is now a fact of life; and that if the political leadership had been decisive and united, 300 or more people would not have had to die.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tourist industry has virtually collapsed when it was just reaching its peak. Tourism makes up about 5 per cent of the Indian Ocean island’s $87-billion economy supporting about 1 million jobs. It is also the third largest source of foreign currencies. Tourists from India contribute a sizeable chunk, especially after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) makes it cheaper for companies to hold conventions and offsite meetings in neighbouring destinations. In 2018, a total of 397,985 Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka as against 384,628 in 2017. But after the attacks, there is a 41 per cent increase in cancellation of departure bookings for Sri Lanka from April 21 to 27 from India, with a 17 per cent drop in enquiring customers. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Sri Lanka needs a constant flow of currency to keep up payments on its foreign debt which amounts to about 80 per cent of the country's annual economic output. And it is rising. Much of it is owed to countries in currencies other than the Sri Lankan rupee (LkRs). In 2018, Moody's and Fitch both downgraded the Sri Lankan government's credit rating raising doubts over its ability to repay its debts. If investors lose confidence and pull out, the nation's currency could weaken further.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, it is national morale and belief in politics that has taken the biggest hit. Relations between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have been strained since Sirisena tried to replace Wickremesinghe with opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in 2018.</p>

<p>&nbsp;The move failed, Wickremesinghe was reinstated on the orders of the Supreme Court, but ever since, the President’s office and the Prime Minister’s secretariat have been at loggerheads, stymying each other and withholding information from each other. The church attacks that the government has now confirmed were carried out by a Daesh front called Thowheed Jamath, could have been prevented had the President (who controls defence ministry, intelligence and internal security) shared with the rest of government, intelligence warnings from international agencies that the country got nearly two weeks ago. There is no evidence that the government has learnt any lessons and two parallel enquiries – one directed by the president and the other by the prime minister – have been ordered into the circumstances of the intelligence failure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the island nation has seen nearly three decades of violence from a racial insurgency with its roots in the Tamil minority northern region, even at its peak, insurgents did not target places of worship. Sri Lanka is poly-religious with Christians and Muslims among both Tamils and Sinhala races. Tension has been reported lately between the Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims but not on a threatening scale. This attack will likely sharpen religious differences, introducing a new element in society and politics. Elections for a new Parliament are due in the summer of 2020 and a new president must be in place before January 2020. President Maithripala Sirisena has made no secret of his ambitions of another term. But after this attack, the prospects are doubtful. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A state of emergency has been declared giving the President extraordinary powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Public Safety Order. For a country that had defeated the deadly Tamil Tigers, the prospect of renewed terrorism from Muslim radicals from within and next door must be numbing. As Commander of the IPKF who had operated in the north and east of Sri Lanka and seen the northern and southern insurgencies of the 1990s, I worry for Sri Lanka. The sense of triumphalism after winning the war against Tamil Tigers has engendered extreme Sinhalese chauvinism and encouraged Sinhala Buddhist extremist groups like Bodu Bala Sena to target the relatively more prosperous Muslims in Kandy and the suburbs of Colombo. The anti-Muslim rioting last year by BBS which was politically motivated spun out of control requiring a national emergency to be declared. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Unless the President and Prime Minister bury the hatchet and deal with the consequences of the Palm Sunday blasts apolitically, Sri Lanka could face the prospects of another internal conflict and kill Colombo’s ambitions of becoming another Singapore. It is the right time for India to gently provide intelligence and investigative expertise and also full cooperation by the government of Tamil Nadu. Any widespread discord and civil disturbances have the potential to spill over into India. &nbsp;</p>

<p>India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have a trilateral agreement for joint patrolling in the waters of the Indian Ocean to ensure no inimical coastal landings or escapes take place. Sri Lanka will be in mourning for a long time and the victory flag that has fluttered since after 19 May 2009 victory over terrorism at Galle Face Green will be lowered at half mast. After ten years of freedom from terrorism, Sri Lanka has lapsed into bad times. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Palm Sunday serial suicide attacks are the worst in Sri Lanka’s history, shattering its ten-year long tryst with freedom from terrorism following a 30-year civil war which ended in May 2009.

The Palm Sunday serial suicide attacks are the worst in Sri Lanka’s history, shattering its ten-year long tryst with freedom from terrorism following a 30-year civil war which ended in May 2009. Sri Lanka has known 539 suicide attacks by Tamil Tigers on land, at sea and in the air. The latest attacks have revived the ghosts of domestic wars fought with the Marxist JVP and secessionist Tamil Tigers and will have a long term impact on politics and society. The economy already under stress, is expected to take a big hit. Worse, a dysfunctional government shows no signs of getting its act together as President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe remain at loggerheads. A stable and alert government could have avoided the Palm Sunday tragedy. As it struggles to conquer the trauma, horror and loss after the attacks that left over 350 dead, it is clear that they carry the IS signature and a connect between the IS hub in the Maldives and the local radical Thowheed Jamath is being made. Seven local Muslim suicide bombers could not have been born overnight. Sri Lanka is also coming to terms with reality: that it could take months, maybe up to a year, for the economy of the Island state to recover; that religious friction never seen before is now a fact of life; and that if the political leadership had been decisive and united, 300 or more people would not have had to die. The tourist industry has virtually collapsed when it was just reaching its peak. Tourism makes up about 5 per cent of the Indian Ocean island’s $87-billion economy supporting about 1 million jobs. It is also the third largest source of foreign currencies. Tourists from India contribute a sizeable chunk, especially after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) makes it cheaper for companies to hold conventions and offsite meetings in neighbouring destinations. In 2018, a total of 397,985 Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka as against 384,628 in 2017. But after the attacks, there is a 41 per cent increase in cancellation of departure bookings for Sri Lanka from April 21 to 27 from India, with a 17 per cent drop in enquiring customers. Sri Lanka needs a constant flow of currency to keep up payments on its foreign debt which amounts to about 80 per cent of the country's annual economic output. And it is rising. Much of it is owed to countries in currencies other than the Sri Lankan rupee (LkRs). In 2018, Moody's and Fitch both downgraded the Sri Lankan government's credit rating raising doubts over its ability to repay its debts. If investors lose confidence and pull out, the nation's currency could weaken further. However, it is national morale and belief in politics that has taken the biggest hit. Relations between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have been strained since Sirisena tried to replace Wickremesinghe with opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in 2018. The move failed, Wickremesinghe was reinstated on the orders of the Supreme Court, but ever since, the President’s office and the Prime Minister’s secretariat have been at loggerheads, stymying each other and withholding information from each other. The church attacks that the government has now confirmed were carried out by a Daesh front called Thowheed Jamath, could have been prevented had the President (who controls defence ministry, intelligence and internal security) shared with the rest of government, intelligence warnings from international agencies that the country got nearly two weeks ago. There is no evidence that the government has learnt any lessons and two parallel enquiries – one directed by the president and the other by the prime minister – have been ordered into the circumstances of the intelligence failure. Although the island nation has seen nearly three decades of violence from a racial insurgency with its roots in the Tamil minority northern region, even at its peak, insurgents did not target places of worship. Sri Lanka is poly-religious with Christians and Muslims among both Tamils and Sinhala races. Tension has been reported lately between the Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims but not on a threatening scale. This attack will likely sharpen religious differences, introducing a new element in society and politics. Elections for a new Parliament are due in the summer of 2020 and a new president must be in place before January 2020. President Maithripala Sirisena has made no secret of his ambitions of another term. But after this attack, the prospects are doubtful. A state of emergency has been declared giving the President extraordinary powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Public Safety Order. For a country that had defeated the deadly Tamil Tigers, the prospect of renewed terrorism from Muslim radicals from within and next door must be numbing. As Commander of the IPKF who had operated in the north and east of Sri Lanka and seen the northern and southern insurgencies of the 1990s, I worry for Sri Lanka. The sense of triumphalism after winning the war against Tamil Tigers has engendered extreme Sinhalese chauvinism and encouraged Sinhala Buddhist extremist groups like Bodu Bala Sena to target the relatively more prosperous Muslims in Kandy and the suburbs of Colombo. The anti-Muslim rioting last year by BBS which was politically motivated spun out of control requiring a national emergency to be declared. Unless the President and Prime Minister bury the hatchet and deal with the consequences of the Palm Sunday blasts apolitically, Sri Lanka could face the prospects of another internal conflict and kill Colombo’s ambitions of becoming another Singapore. It is the right time for India to gently provide intelligence and investigative expertise and also full cooperation by the government of Tamil Nadu. Any widespread discord and civil disturbances have the potential to spill over into India. India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have a trilateral agreement for joint patrolling in the waters of the Indian Ocean to ensure no inimical coastal landings or escapes take place. Sri Lanka will be in mourning for a long time and the victory flag that has fluttered since after 19 May 2009 victory over terrorism at Galle Face Green will be lowered at half mast. After ten years of freedom from terrorism, Sri Lanka has lapsed into bad times. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

ISIS-linked attacks in Sri Lanka will have a long term impact on politics and society

<p>On the&nbsp;25th anniversary of the infamous Babri Masjid demolition which stoked communal violence between Hindus and Muslims across India, Uttar Pradesh&#39;s Ayodhya has been put on alert Wednesday&nbsp;and additional security has been deployed to avoid any kind of untoward incident.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Security heightened in Ayodhya on the 25th anniversary of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BabriDemolition?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BabriDemolition</a> <a href="https://t.co/IyfctuiQpq">pic.twitter.com/IyfctuiQpq</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/938268255138877441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Posters seen in Meerut yesterday, ahead of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BabriDemolition?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BabriDemolition</a>&#39;s 25th anniversary. Police say posters have been taken down &amp; one person behind the act has been identified. <a href="https://t.co/tNDC7F2iyI">pic.twitter.com/tNDC7F2iyI</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/938308392669589507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>On December 6, 1992, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised a rally in Ayodhya involving over 1.5 lakh volunteers, known as &#39;kar sevaks&#39;. However, it soon turned violent, and the crowd overpowered the security forces before demolishing the 16th Century Babri Masjid.</p>

<p>The rally saw the presence of senior BHP leaders including LK Advani, Uma Bharti and Murli Manohar Joshi.</p>

<p>The VHP celebrates the demolition day as &#39;Shaurya Diwas&#39; and organises several events every year, claiming that a temple of Lord Ram temple originally stood there and was demolished to construct the mosque.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The church attacked was the Pentecostal Church in Kottaipalayam

On the 25th anniversary of the infamous Babri Masjid demolition which stoked communal violence between Hindus and Muslims across India, Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya has been put on alert Wednesday and additional security has been deployed to avoid any kind of untoward incident. Security heightened in Ayodhya on the 25th anniversary of #BabriDemolition pic.twitter.com/IyfctuiQpq — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 6, 2017 = × Posters seen in Meerut yesterday, ahead of #BabriDemolition's 25th anniversary. Police say posters have been taken down & one person behind the act has been identified. pic.twitter.com/tNDC7F2iyI — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 6, 2017 × On December 6, 1992, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised a rally in Ayodhya involving over 1.5 lakh volunteers, known as 'kar sevaks'. However, it soon turned violent, and the crowd overpowered the security forces before demolishing the 16th Century Babri Masjid. The rally saw the presence of senior BHP leaders including LK Advani, Uma Bharti and Murli Manohar Joshi. The VHP celebrates the demolition day as 'Shaurya Diwas' and organises several events every year, claiming that a temple of Lord Ram temple originally stood there and was demolished to construct the mosque.

Church attacked, vandalised in Tamil Nadu, 5 injured

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