Lahore court convicts 42 Pakistani Christians on terrorism charges

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has convicted 42 Christians for lynching two Muslim men during protests that broke out as a result of two church bombings in Youhanabad in 2015.

The twin bombings that occurred on March 15, 2015 resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including a woman and a policeman. Following the blasts, an angry mob took to the streets and lynched the two men who were suspected of being perpetrators or accomplices of the attackers.

Among the 42 Christians sentenced by the court on Feb. 20 were three human rights activists who were labeled as "instigators of violence," according to Agenzia Fides. As many as 84 Christians were charged with murder and terrorism, but 42 of them were acquitted in the summer of 2016.

The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Bishops expressed disappointment with the decision as there has been no action taken against the perpetrators of the bombings.

"The NCJP expresses disappointment on the role of the law-enforcement agencies as they only focused on the lynching incident while describing it as the worst form of terrorism," the NCJP said in a statement, as reported by Christians in Pakistan.

"The Commission stands strongly against such street justice but would also like to draw the attention of the competent authorities towards the treatment meted out to the perpetrators of this crime," it continued.

The NCJP voiced their concerns over the inaction of the police in the case and demanded that the perpetrators of the bombing be brought to justice.

"The community still mourns the loss of their loved ones, whose bravery and sacrifice saved the lives of many innocent worshipers who were praying in the two churches on March 15, 2015," the commission stated.

The NGO Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) said that at least 32 of the defendants were "unjustly accused" and asserted that the verdict was influenced by pressures from Muslim extremists.

The ruling came less than a month after the court acquitted more than 100 Muslims for setting fire to more than 100 homes in Joseph Colony in 2013. Approximately 112 of the accused were acquitted by the court, citing lack of evidence despite eyewitness and video footages of the attack.

The Pakistan National Assembly recently passed the "Criminal Laws Amendment Act 2016," which would outlaw sectarianism, forced conversions and mass lynching. Under the proposed law, those who are convicted of inciting religious hatred and violence could be punished with one to three years' imprisonment.