Pakistan's shame: Muslim mob tortures Christian couple, burn them alive in brick kiln

Islamabad: Police in Pakistan say a Muslim mob has beaten to death a Christian couple and burned their bodies in a brick kiln where they worked over them allegedly desecrating the Quran. Tuesday’s slaying is the latest targeting minorities in Pakistan who allegedly committed blasphemy. A website reports that the victims were 35-year-old Shahzad Masih and his wife, 31-year-old Shama Bibi. Breitbart reports: “The two, who worked in a clay-baking factory, were kidnapped on November 2 and held hostage for two days inside the factory. On Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m. the two were beaten and then pushed into the brick kiln. Shama was pregnant.” [caption id=“attachment_1788361” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A Pakistani burns a cross. Representational image. Reuters.[/caption] NBC news reports that the attack was instigated by the couple’s neighbours. Shama had burnt items the belonged to her deceased father over the weekend. A neighbour spotted her and told others that the Quran was among the objects that were burnt by Shama.  A mob of at least 100 people held them hostage, beat them up and finally set them ablaze in the brick kiln. Local police officer Mohammed Pervez says Tuesday’s attack took place in the town of Kot Radha Kishan in eastern Punjab province. Pervez said officers were trying arrest those involved. He declined to elaborate. Shahbaz Sharif, the top elected official in the province, has ordered a probe into the incident. Under Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws, anyone accused of insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad can be sentenced to death. However, the laws are often misused to settle personal scores and target minorities. With inputs from Associated Press