A mob in Pakistan last month attacked and lynched a factory manager who was accused of blasphemy.

The man, a Sri Lankan national named Priyantha Kumara, 48, was working in the town of Sialkot as the manager of a textile factory. He was accused of insulting Islam while at the factory. When word got out, a mob beat Kumara and dragged him out of the building. He was lynched, and his body was set on fire. Some men later posed with the body and posted photos to social media, reported Al-Jazeera.

A few days after the incident, police announced that they had arrested seven men who served as ringleaders in the attack. Dozens of others have been arrested for taking part.

Amnesty International called for a full investigation into the matter.

“Authorities must immediately conduct an independent, impartial and prompt investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable,” the group said in a statement. “Today’s event underscores the urgency with which an environment that enables abuse and puts lives at risk must be rectified.”

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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