Father John Channan, O.P., Vice Provincial of the Vice Province of the Son of Mary in Pakistan, joined Christians blocking railway tracks near the town of Gojra with the coffins of seven Catholics--all members of the same family--who, along with one other victim, died as a mob of up to 20,000 Muslims rampaged through the eastern Pakistani town on August 1.  The Christian protesters insisted that formal charges be filed by local authorities against radical local Muslim leaders responsible for inciting the violence.  Fr. Channan said the mob violence began over trumped-up charges that Christians had defiled pages of the Quran.

"Christians in Pakistan are being persecuted by militant Muslims," explained Fr. Channan, who is responsible for a Dominican community that was originally founded by missionary friars from the Province of St. Joseph. The country's anti-blasphemy laws, he said, are being abused by Islamic extremists to target Christians as well as moderate Muslims, who form the great majority of the 400 persons currently in prison on charges filed under the laws. "The Christians of Pakistan demand the total repeal" of the laws, said Fr. Channan.

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