Tourist Killed by Mob in Pakistan After Accusation of Blasphemy
A tourist visiting Pakistan was dragged from a police station and killed by a mob in north-west Pakistan after an accusation of blasphemy. The incident occurred in the town of Madyan, located in Swat district, where the man was visiting the Swat Valley, a popular destination in summer.
The Tourist was accused of desecrating the Quran, the Islamic holy book, on Thursday. The accusation led to a large group of people gathering outside the police station where the man was being held.
Despite the local police making efforts to protect him, the mob managed to overpower the police and drag the man out of the station, and killed him.
Lynchings by mobs are not an uncommon site in Pakistan after an accusation of blasphemy, which according to them punishable by death. In recent months, several incidents of mob violence have been reported, often targeting religious minorities.
Pakistan Ruling
The Pakistan Penal Code outlaws blasphemy (Urdu: قانون ناموس رسالت) against any recognized religion, with punishments ranging from a fine to the death penalty.
Video footage of the incident has sparked outrage on social media in Pakistan. The footage shows the man’s body being paraded through the streets and then set alight. The Police have confirmed the incident that a tourist had been murdered and that 11 people were also injured in the incident.
The Police have made a concerted effort to clear blocked roads and to also disperse the angry crowds. Eight officers were among the injured. The police have also opened a case against the hundreds of people involved in the incident, including some 13-year-olds involved.
Local authorities have now deployed additional security forces to the region to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of tourists. Hotels in the town were initially full, but tourists are now scrambling to leave.
Pakistan made blasphemy a crime under a 19th-century law brought in by the British. The law was amended in the 1980s to make it punishable by death. Human rights critics have long argued that minorities are often the target of accusation of blasphemy, and that the law is often used to settle personal scores or to incite violence.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of tourists in Pakistan and the country’s handling of religiously motivated violence. The incident highlights the need for greater protection of religious minorities and the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law.
The killing of a tourist in Pakistan after an accusation of blasphemy is a tragic reminder of the dangers of religiously motivated violence. The incident highlights the need for greater protection of religious minorities and the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law.
Continue reading: Rep Neil Friske arrested on Sexual Assault and Gun allegations, Released Without Charges
