A '''Bible desecration''' is the treatment of the Bible in a way that is intended to be disrespectful or insulting. Bible desecration is considered to be blasphemous and sacrilegious in Christianity.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
Such incidences have resulted in legal repercussions, with notable cases occurring in 2007,<ref name="Darski">{{cite web |last1=Michaels |first1=Sean |title=Polish singer faces two years in jail over Bible-tearing stunt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/oct/31/polish-singer-bible-tearing-stunt |website=The Guardian |date=October 31, 2012}}</ref> 2011,<ref name="UCA">{{cite web |title=Church forgives Bible desecration |url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/church-forgives-bible-desecration/11892 |website=Union of Catholic Asian News |language=en |date=April 11, 2011}}</ref> 2012,<ref name="Trial">{{cite web |last1=Al-Youm |first1=Al-Masry |title=Abu Islam Bible desecration trial postponed to 21 October |url=https://www.egyptindependent.com/abu-islam-bible-desecration-trial-postponed-21-october/|publisher=Egypt Independent |date=October 14, 2012}}</ref> and in 2018.<ref name="IT"/> In April 2023, Satanist leaders desecrated the Bible at The Satanic Temple convention in Boston;<ref name="SatanCon"/><ref name="Boston"/> in the same year, at least four churches were arsoned and Bibles were desecrated in Jaranwala, Pakistan in the month of August.<ref name="Jaranwala"/>
== Notable instances of desecration == === 2007: Gdynia === Adam Darski, on September 3, 2007, tore up a Bible while performing onstage. He was prosecuted by the government of Poland for causing offense to the Catholic Church. He was brought to court in 2010, 2011, and again in 2012 for the Bible desecration; though charges were dropped.<ref name="Darski"/>
=== 2011: Lahore === On April 8, 2011, factory worker Mohammad Akhtar tore up a copy of the Bible at the gate of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He was charged with blasphemy and jailed by the Punjab Police. He was forgiven by Church leaders for the Bible desecration.<ref name="UCA"/>
=== 2012: Cairo === In September 2012, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Abdallah tore up a copy of the Bible outside the U.S. Embassy in Cairo in Egypt. He underwent a blasphemy trial on October 21, 2012, and the court building was cordoned off due to rioting.<ref name="Trial"/>
=== 2014: Selangor === Three hundred and twenty-one Bibles were stamped with warnings after being seized by authorities from the State of Selangor, causing outrage among Malaysian Christians.<ref name="IT">{{cite web |title=Malaysian Christians furious over hundreds of desecrated Bibles |url=https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Malaysian-Christians-furious-over-hundreds-of-desecrated-Bibles-32930.html |website=AsiaNews |date=December 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Malaysian Christians Furious over Hundreds of Desecrated Bibles |url=https://www.persecution.org/2014/12/12/malaysian-christians-furious-over-hundreds-of-desecrated-bibles/ |website=International Christian Concern |date=December 11, 2014}}</ref>
=== 2023: Boston === On April 28, 2023, at the SatanCon in Boston, which was held by The Satanic Temple, a Satanic leader desecrated a Bible by ripping pages out of it and then throwing it on the floor while chanting "Hail Satan!".<ref name="SatanCon">{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=Jeannie Ortega |title=Boston SatanCon: Satanist rips pages from the Bible in act of rebellion, shouts 'hail Satan' |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/satanists-tear-bible-pages-at-satancon-as-a-symbolic-message.html |website=The Christian Post |date=May 4, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Boston">{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Jon |title=Boston SatanCon-goers shred Bible, pro-cop flag during opening ritual: 'Hail Satan!' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/boston-satancon-goers-shred-bible-pro-cop-flag-during-opening-ritual-hail-satan |website=Fox News |date=April 30, 2023}}</ref>
=== 2023: Jaranwala === On August 16, 2023, in the city of Jaranwala, Pakistan, hundreds of Muslims engaged in church arsons and Bible desecrations. These included at least twenty-one churches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Over 100 arrested, probe ordered in attacks on churches and homes of Christians in Pakistan |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/over-100-arrested-probe-ordered-in-attacks-on-churches-and-homes-of-christians-in-pakistan/articleshow/102806154.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=August 17, 2023}}</ref> According to the BBC, "police appear[ed] to watch on" as this took place.<ref name="Jaranwala">{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=George |title=Pakistan: Mob burns churches over blasphemy claims |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66525150 |website=BBC News |date=August 16, 2023}}</ref>
== See also == *Anti-Christian sentiment *Church arson *Criticism of the Bible *Host desecration *Quran desecration
==References== <references />
{{improve categories|date=May 2023}}
Category:Christian Bible Category:Anti-Christian sentiment Category:Blasphemy Category:Desecration