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| Pakistan arrests 43 over 'blasphemy' killings | Pakistan arrests 43 over 'blasphemy' killings |
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| Pakistani police have arrested at least 43 suspects in connection with Tuesday's killing of a Christian couple accused of desecrating the Koran. | Pakistani police have arrested at least 43 suspects in connection with Tuesday's killing of a Christian couple accused of desecrating the Koran. |
| Reports say the couple were beaten to death by hundreds of locals who then burned their bodies in the brick kiln where they worked in Punjab province. | |
| Police say the suspects are due to appear in court in Lahore. About 200 people protested against the killings. | Police say the suspects are due to appear in court in Lahore. About 200 people protested against the killings. |
| Allegations of blasphemy are often used to settle personal grievances. | Allegations of blasphemy are often used to settle personal grievances. |
| In May gunmen in the city of Multan shot dead a lawyer, Rashid Rehman, who had been defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy. | In May gunmen in the city of Multan shot dead a lawyer, Rashid Rehman, who had been defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy. |
| And last month a Pakistani court upheld the death penalty for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy in 2010 - a case which sparked a global outcry. | And last month a Pakistani court upheld the death penalty for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy in 2010 - a case which sparked a global outcry. |
| Since the 1990s, scores of Christians have been found guilty of desecrating the Koran or of blasphemy. | Since the 1990s, scores of Christians have been found guilty of desecrating the Koran or of blasphemy. |
| While most of them have been sentenced to death by the lower courts, many sentences have been overturned due to lack of evidence. | While most of them have been sentenced to death by the lower courts, many sentences have been overturned due to lack of evidence. |
| However, correspondents say even the mere accusation of blasphemy is enough to make someone a target for hardliners. | However, correspondents say even the mere accusation of blasphemy is enough to make someone a target for hardliners. |