New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has condemned the attack on Christians and the burning of Churches in Pakistan. In a statement to the media, the JIH National  Secretary, K.K. Suhail said, “Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemns the attack on Christians over blasphemy allegations and burning of Churches in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, Pakistan. We want to convey the message that Muslims share the pain of the Christians and we express full solidarity with them. The vandalization of Churches, burning of Bibles, and the surrounding houses that belonged to Christians is highly deplorable and extremely shameful. The desecration of a religious place of worship shows the intolerance and utter disrespect of fellow humans and their beliefs. Jamaat sees this attack as a collective assault on all religions and humanity. The Jaranwala incident has no sanction in Islam. Neither such acts nor their perpetrators have anything to do with Islam. It explicitly forbids the burning of Bibles and Churches. Islam calls for protection of man’s life and property. Life and dignity of an individual is sacrosanct in Islam. These acts cannot be linked with Islam. Those who are carrying out such acts in the name of Islam must know they are misusing it and giving it a bad name. They have no right to do it.”

The JIH National Secretary said, “Jamaat-e-Islami appreciates and endorses the demand by Muslim Ulema and justice-loving citizens to restore the places of worship and offer adequate compensation to the victims. The rising intolerance, hatred, and vitriol spreading across societies is a cause for serious concern and is hurting our moral compass. We appeal to people belonging to all communities to avoid being provoked by those who want to stoke the flames of hatred.  If at all, they come to know of any incident that hurts their religious sentiments, they should only alert the concerned authorities. Nobody has the right to take the law into their hands and exact revenge on their terms.”