A tourist was killed by a mob in Madyan, a town in Pakistan’s Swat district, after being accused of blasphemy on Thursday. The police, who were trying to protect the man, could not prevent the violent attack.
The tourist was dragged from a police station and lynched by a crowd that accused him of desecrating the Quran, Islam’s holy book. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with video footage showing the mob parading the man’s body through the streets before setting it on fire.
Confirming the incident, the regional police chief of Malakand division, Mohammad Ali Gandapur, said, “The man was torched, and around 11 people, including eight police officers, were injured.” He accused the local mosque of inciting the crowd after the police had initially rescued the man.
Dr. Zahidullah, a police officer in the Swat region, described the police’s efforts to clear roads and disperse the angry mob: “We tried our best to control the situation and protect the individual, but the crowd overpowered us.”
The police have launched a case against hundreds of individuals involved in the attack, including minors as young as 13. Additional security forces have been deployed to the region to prevent further violence.
Blasphemy, punishable by death in Pakistan, often triggers mob violence. Recent incidents, including the attack on a Christian man last month, have highlighted the dangerous consequences of such accusations. Critics argue that blasphemy laws are frequently misused to target minorities and incite violence.
Hotels in the town, previously bustling with tourists visiting the scenic Swat Valley, are now experiencing a mass exodus as visitors scramble to leave in fear.
Pakistan’s history of blasphemy-related violence dates back to the 1980s when the British-era blasphemy laws were intensified. With approximately 96% of its population being Muslim, Pakistan remains one of the countries that impose capital punishment for blasphemy, alongside nations like Iran and Mauritania.
