SW News: The United Arab Emirates has "strongly" condemned the recent violence against Christians carried out by extremists, including the burning of churches and Christian homes in Pakistan's Faisalabad. The violence erupted last Wednesday after a Christian cleaner was accused of the alleged desecration of the Qur’an.

In a statement dated August 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of the UAE "commended the efforts and diligence of the Pakistani government and the measures it implemented in confronting these criminal acts."

Through the statement, the Ministry affirmed its position, expressing a "permanent rejection of all practices aimed at undermining security and stability, in contravention of human and moral values and principles."

The ministry laid emphasis on the "need to respect religious symbols and avoid incitement and polarization at a time when the international community needs to work together to reaffirm a commitment to the universal principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence."

"This situation has been very terrifying. The Christians are very scared. Please pray for our people; pray that their lives may be protected," the Vicar General of Faisalabad Catholic Diocese, Fr. Abid Tanveer, told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a charity organization for Christians.