Sialkot lynching: Horror, shame overwhelm Pakistan as the Sri Lankan's killing lays bare its blasphemy barbarism
Islamabad/IBNS: In a chilling case of a vigilante mob justice, a Sri Lankan man was lynched and then set on fire by a marauding crowd at a factory in Pakistan's Sialkot on accusation of blamsphemy, sparking global outrage over the rising incidents of religious fundamentalism in the Islamic nation.
The victim has been identified as Priyantha Kumara, who was tortured to death to by the mob over blasphemy allegations before they burnt his body.
Kumara, a Sri Lankan national and general manager of Rajko Industries in Sialkot in, was accused by the vigilante mob of tearing a poster bearing the name of Prophet Mohammad, reports said.
After torturing him, the mob burnt his body publicly on a road in Sialkot.
As videos and images of the horrific lynching incident surfaced on social media, politicians, diplomats, activists and netizens from Pakistan and abroad expressed shock and drew the government's attention to the rising extremism in the country.
Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the incident in a strongly-worded tweet calling it "a day of shame for Pakistan".
"The horrific vigilante attack on a factory in Sialkot and the burning alive of its Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan," Khan tweeted.
The Pakistan PM is informed that he is overseeing the investigation into the incident.
"Let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law," the Pak PM wrote.
The horrific vigilante attack on factory in Sialkot & the burning alive of Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan. I am overseeing the investigations & let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 3, 2021
Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, meanwhile, appreciated the "prompt" action by the government.
"The Sialkot incident is definitely very sad and shameful, and not religious in any way whatsoever. Islam is a religion that established cannons of deliberative justice rather than mob lynchings," he said.
I appreciate the prompt action taken by the Prime Minister and Government of Pakistan. The Sialkot incident is definitely very sad & shameful, and not religious in any way whatsoever. Islam is a religion that established cannons of deliberative justice rather than mob lynchings. pic.twitter.com/QF6jLToZkg
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) December 3, 2021
Police officials reportedly said that at least 50 people have been arrested so far in connection with the lynching and investigators are examining CCTV footage and other videos to identify others involved in the "barbarism".
PTI leader and former aide to the prime minister Zulfi Bukhari termed the incident "simply beneath the lowest of inhumanity", saying "we’re an embarrassed nation today."
"There’s no religion that believes in or preaches such brutality, let alone Islam," he added.
We’re an embarrassed nation today. Mob lynching of a Srilankan national in #Sialkot is simply beneath the lowest of inhumanity.
— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) December 3, 2021
There’s no religion that believes in or preaches such brutality, let alone #Islam.
We must bring all those responsible to justice.
The incident triggered a unanimous reaction from Pakistan's prominent personalities who voiced in unison how ashamed they are as countrymen following the gruesome murder.
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari called the murder "horrific and condemnable".
"Mob violence cannot be acceptable under any circumstance as state has laws to deal with all offences. Punjab government's action must and will be firm and unambiguous," she tweeted.
Horrific & condemnable act of the mob attack on factory & murder of Sri Lankan manager in Sialkot. Mob violence cannot be acceptable under any circumstance as state has laws to deal with all offences. Punjab govt's action must & will be firm and unambiguous.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 3, 2021
Pakistani actor Mahira Khan said she was sick to her stomach and sought answers from Prime Minister Imran Khan oer the lynching.
"Ashamed!! Sick to my stomach!! Looking at you @ImranKhanPTI for answers, for justice and to take away this menace from our country," she posted on Twitter.
Ashamed!! Sick to my stomach!! Looking at you @ImranKhanPTI for answers, for justice and to take away this menace from our country. #Sialkot
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) December 3, 2021
Prominent cleric Maulana Tariq Jameel said that taking the law into one's own hands on the basis of a mere accusation was against the teachings of Islam.
"There is no room for violence and extremism in Islam," he said, urging religious scholars to play a positive role in preventing extremism in the country.
سیالکوٹ میں ناموسِ رسالت کی آڑ میں غیر ملکی کو زندہ جلا دینے کا واقعہ انتہائی افسوسناک ہے. محض الزام کی بنیاد پر قانون کو ہاتھ میں لینا اسلامی تعلیمات کے خلاف ہے. اسلام میں تشدد اورشدت پسندی کی کوئی جگہ نہیں. علماء کرام انتہا پسندی کو روکنے میں مثبت کردار ادا کریں.#Sialkot
— Tariq Jamil (@TariqJamilOFCL) December 3, 2021
Author and activist Fatima Bhutto said every person in the mob should be tried for murder.
"Horrified by the news from Sialkot. Is there a clearer or or more tragic picture of the forces this government has empowered? Every man in that mob should be tried for murder," she wrote.
Horrified by the news from Sialkot. Is there a clearer or or more tragic picture of the forces this government has empowered? Every man in that mob should be tried for murder.
— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) December 3, 2021
One Manoor Sheikh wrote: "Where are we heading? This is what happens when you let lose the radical mobs who have nothing to do with logic or rationality. The #Sialkot incident is absolutely horrific. This is a no country to live in."
Where are we heading? This is what happens when you let lose the radical mobs who have nothing to do with logic or rationality. The #Sialkot incident is absolutely horrific. This is a no country to live in.
— Mahnoor Sheikh (@mahnoorrsheikh) December 3, 2021
Another Tehseen Bajwa tweeted: "I am ashamed of being a Pakistani today. What more painful is there is no hope and light. It's all been downhill and now we have reached the bottom. We are doomed."
I am ashamed of being a Pakistani today. What more painful is there is no hope and light. It's all been downhill and now we have reached the bottom. We are doomed.
— Tehseen Bajwa (@TBajwa7) December 3, 2021
The mob lynching incident also drew global attention and condemnation.
Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Wendy Gilmour called it "a day of great sorrow".
"I trust the perpetrators will be brought to justice, and I hope the hate, ignorance and callous disregard for human decency that led to this incident will also be addressed," she said.
A truly heinous crime, and a day of great sorrow. I trust the perpetrators will be brought to justice; and I hope the hate, ignorance and callous disregard for human decency that led to this incident will also be addressed. #Sialkot https://t.co/uFdIOPqRQI
— Wendy Gilmour (@gilmour_wendy) December 3, 2021
European Union's ambassador in Islamabad Androulla Kaminara called the lynching a "horrific attack".
"The immediate reaction by the prime minister and the announcement that those responsible will be brought to justice is very welcome," she said.
This is a horrific attack. Immediate reaction by the Prime Minister and the announcement that those responsible will be brought to justice is very welcome. @EUPakistan https://t.co/ZHe4xhtfGg
— Androulla Kaminara (@AKaminara) December 3, 2021
Earlier this year, a French envoy in Islamabad faced threats amid deteriorating diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
French ambassador to the country, Marc Barety, faced security threats after a radical Islamic party in Pakistan asked to boycott French products and sever all ties with the country over blasphemy charges.
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