PAKISTAN-BLASPHEMY
Pakistan police: Muslim mob kills Christian couple
ISLAMABAD (AP) β Police in Pakistan say a Muslim mob has beaten a Christian couple to death and burned their bodies in a brick kiln for allegedly desecrating the Quran.
Other sources say the young Christians were thrown alive into the kiln where they burned to death.
Tuesday’s slaying is the latest targeting minorities in Pakistan who allegedly commit blasphemy.
Local police officer Mohammed Pervez says Tuesday’s attack happened in eastern Punjab province. Pervez says officers are trying to arrest those involved.
Under Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws, anyone accused of insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad can be sentenced to death. However, the laws are often misused to settle personal scores and target minorities.
Sound:
288-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom)–Police in Pakistan say a Muslim mob has beaten a Christian couple to death and burned their bodies in a brick kiln for allegedly desecrating the Quran. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (4 Nov 2014)
< 270-a-14-(Nina Shea (NEE’-nah SHAY’), director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, in AP interview)-“on death row”-Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, says the Christian couple was beaten for alleged blasphemy and their bodies were burned. (4 Nov 2014) < 271-a-08-(Nina Shea (NEE’-nah SHAY’), director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, in AP interview)-“will be killed”-Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, says blasphemy charges are often lodged in Pakistan for ulterior motives. (4 Nov 2014) < 269-a-14-(Nina Shea (NEE’-nah SHAY’), director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, in AP interview)-“of a mob”-Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, says a Christian couple has been killed in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy. (4 Nov 2014) < MOSQUE GUNSHOTS No one hurt when gunshots hit California mosque COACHELLA, Calif. 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