Today’s Headlines:

HINDU MILITANTS IN INDIA DESTROY CHURCH, SCHOOL, BOOKSTAND

‘BLASPHEMY’ RUMOR PROMPTS MUSLIM MOB TO TORCH 2 PAKISTANI CHURCHES

UNIDENTIFIED MEN ATTACK WELL-KNOWN CHRISTIAN SINGER IN PAKISTAN

Today’s Top Stories:

HINDU MILITANTS IN INDIA DESTROY CHURCH, SCHOOL, BOOKSTAND

A church building, a school and a bookstand operated by Hopegivers International were destroyed in Ramganjmandi in the Kota district of northwestern India’s Rajasthan state Friday, Feb. 17. The problems began when Hindu militants purchased a book from a display that contained negative references to Hindu gods. However, it is believed the violence may have been intended to prevent the school’s graduation ceremonies planned for Feb. 23-26 just as Hindu militants attempted to do in 2005. The purchase of the book is seen as an attempt to provide justification for the anti-Christian violence. After receiving police warnings, Hopegivers postponed the ceremonies. The only people detained by police in the case were three mission workers. (Voice of the Martyrs)

‘BLASPHEMY’ RUMOR PROMPTS MUSLIM MOB TO TORCH 2 PAKISTANI CHURCHES

A crowd of 500 Muslims burned down two Pakistani churches and a convent school Sunday, Feb. 19, in the southern province of Sindh following rumors that a copy of the Koran had been desecrated. St. Mary’s Catholic Church and St. Savior’s Church of Pakistan were attacked in Sukkur by a crowd wielding gasoline bombs, said Vicar General John Murad of the Hyderabad diocese. Pakistani media and government sources said the attack was triggered by rumors that a Christian threw a copy of the Koran into a trash can. But local sources said that the violence occurred after a Muslim was arrested for allegedly burning pages of the Koran in a scheme to frame his Christian father-in-law. After torching the inside of St. Savior’s, the mob turned on the home of Pastor Ilyas Saeed Masih, then they destroyed the 120-year-old St. Mary’s edifice. “They burned it completely, only the walls are standing with a shabby roof,” Murad said. (Compass)

UNIDENTIFIED MEN ATTACK WELL-KNOWN CHRISTIAN SINGER IN PAKISTAN

A well-known Christian Pakistani pop singer, A. Nayyar, was attacked near the Punjab chief minister’s house on Thursday, Feb. 16, following a recording session. Asian News International reported that Nayyar was on his way to his home when he was intercepted by about six unidentified men who hit him and stole his money. Upon recognizing him, the men forced the singer to recite the Kalima, a Muslim prayer that “declares non-Muslims’ conversion to Islam.” The incident has frightened members of religious minorities in Pakistan who are concerned that Christians may face increased persecution. His wife said the attack may be linked to the recent protests against publication of the controversial cartoons of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. Nayyar’s music is popular among both Christians and Muslims in Pakistan. (Assist News Service)

Yousaf Masih, a Pakistani Christian detained on “blasphemy” charges, has been released. His alleged crime led to the eruption of violence last November against the Christian community in Sangla Hill, a village about 80 miles northeast of Lahore. On Saturday, Feb. 18, the Anti-Terrorism Court granted him release on bail. Masih, released immediately, said he was happy and thanked all those who had supported him. Two days later, 65 of 85 Muslims detained for the assault on churches in Sangla Hill were also released on bail. Last month Mohammad Saleem Kalu, the man who had charged Masih with blasphemy, withdrew the accusation and signed a document declaring the man’s innocence. Saleem said he had accused the man on the basis of “mere suspicion.” The blasphemy charge against Masih, a semi-illiterate farmhand, prompted a mob of about 2,000 Muslims to torch three Christian churches, a convent, two Catholic schools and the homes of a Protestant pastor and a Catholic parish priest as well as a hostel for girls and the homes of some Christians in Sangla Hill. (Religion Today)