<p>A mob of armed Muslim students stormed a Christian boys’ school in Bannu, a city located in northern Pakistan, calling for its closure.
According to Fides, the estimated 300 students were protesting following the publishing of blasphemous cartoons of the prophet Mohammed on the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo. The cartoon was published several days after a terrorist attack on the magazine’s headquarters in Parish which lead to the death of 12 people.
Armed with iron bars and sticks, the students jumped the outer walls of the Panel High School and forcibly opened the gates. Four Christian students were injured in the attack, forced the headmaster to close the school for two days and enforcing additional security measures.
Nasir Saeed, a Christian and director of the NGO «Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) released a statement that condemned the continuing attacks on Christians in Pakistan.
«It is very sad that Islamic radicals attack Pakistani Christians because of Charlie Hebdo,» he wrote. «Christians condemn the blasphemous cartoons. It is a shame that even after 67 years since the birth of Pakistan, Christians have not yet been considered Pakistani citizens, but are seen as ‘Western allies.'»
Saeed also stated that Pakistani Christians are attacked and punished for incidents that occur in Western countries, forcing them to live «under constant fear for their lives.»
«It is the politicians’ duty to create a cultural environment and a society in which Christians and religious minorities feel safe,» he concluded.
