After a 28 June incident in Sweden in which pages from the Quran were publicly burned, protests have swept across Pakistan. The prime minister urged the organization of large rallies and convened a joint parliamentary session on 7 July to protest the burning. During these rallies, angry protesters desecrated crosses and insulted Christianity. Christians across the country are bracing for attacks. Haroon Shahzad, a Christian, fled after being charged with blasphemy on 30 June for posting a Bible verse online. Christians in and near Sargodha have been unable to leave their homes because of dangerous protests over an anonymous anti-Islam message left on a local mosque. Christian street sweepers in Hasilpur have been pulled from duty. Front-Line Workers ask for prayers of protection for Believers and for peace across the country.
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