UAE pulls up Pakistan following vandalisation of churches

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a public statement condemning the burning of multiple churches in Pakistan and pulled up the country for the first time over its treatment of minorities, marking a fresh low amid deteriorating ties between the former allies.

The UAE’s foreign affairs ministry affirmed in a press statement on Saturday night the country's permanent rejection of all practices aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human and moral values and principles, and stressed that hate speech and extremism contradict international efforts to spread the values of tolerance, coexistence and peace among peoples.

Further, the UAE stressed the need to respect religious symbols and avoid incitement and polarisation at a time when the international community needs to work together to reaffirm a commitment to upholding the universal principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, which should be promoted and implemented to achieve stability and sustainable development.


The UAE-Pakistan ties have been on a downward spiral for the past few years, with the West Asian nation restricting the number of visas for Pakistanis and distancing itself from Pakistan’s rhetoric on Kashmir. Meanwhile, the UAE has invested in Jammu and Kashmir and also participated at the G20 meet in Srinagar earlier this year.

Last week a mob made its way through a predominantly Christian area on the outskirts of the industrial city of Faisalabad in Pakistan after allegations that the Holy Quran had been desecrated. Multiple churches were vandalised in the Jaranwala district of Faisalabad over blasphemy allegations, leading Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported citing officials. Members of the Christian community were also attacked, it said. Christian leaders alleged that the police remained silent spectators, according to the report.

A Christian cemetery and the office of the local assistant commissioner were also vandalised during the attack. Members of Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (a far-right political party) reportedly led the attack.

Later, more than 100 people were arrested in connection with the church vandalism case.