2 Pakistani Christians killed at courthouse

SLAMABAD – Gunmen killed two Pakistani Christian brothers accused of blasphemy against Islam as they left court on Monday, a government minister and police said.

The men were chained together when the attack took place in the eastern city of Faislabad as they were being taken back into custody after their court appearance.

They were arrested a month ago after leaflets allegedly bearing their names and featuring derogatory remarks against the Prophet Muhammad were found in the town, said Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for minority affairs. He said mosques in Faislabad had called for the men to be attacked.

Bhatti said he suspected the men were falsely accused of blasphemy by people with a grudge against them. Their families had maintained their innocence, he said.

The brothers were killed by two gunmen as they left court, said police officer Rana Ahmed Hasan. A police officer accompanying the men was wounded, he said, adding the killers escaped.

toddtomlinson's analysis:
I pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are killed because they stand up and profess their faith and love of Christ. I fear the same actions will soon be common in the streets of the US. Come quickly Lord for your faithful.