New Delhi: An old video from Londons Westminster Abbey has resurfaced on the internet, showing Pakistans flag flying on March 22. This tradition, which dates back over 50 years, is unrelated to Easter, an Abbey spokesperson clarified to Reuters. The video has sparked claims online suggesting it symbolises Islam replacing Christianity during Easter festivities.Social media reactionsBetween March 27 and April 1, social media users shared images of the flag above the historic church. One Facebook user commented, “Islamic Pakistan flag raised at Westminster Abbey during Easter week,” while another questioned, “Why is the Pakistan flag flying at Westminster Abbey on the holiest of days in the Christian calendar Is this showing how low we have sunk as a country that we darent fly the Union flag”The Pakistani flag was hung in the 755-year-old Westminster Abbey church in London. What do you think pic.twitter.com/75nbGwEqsE— Daily Reports (@dailyreportsx) June 26, 2024Clarification from Westminster AbbeyIt has been said, though not confirmed, that the video is from a special memorial service held at Westminster Abbey for Pakistan Day 2024. Consistent with past practices, the Pakistani flag was flown atop the north tower of the Abbey. The Pakistan High Commission in the UK shared a video of the flag being hoisted.People were misled and made viral claimsAccording to fact-checking websites like Factly and Reuters, the claims made in this video are misleading. Westminster Abbey flew Pakistans national flag on 22 March 2024, as a representative from the High Commission of Pakistan attended Evensong on that day, having been invited to commemorate Pakistan Day on 23 March 2024. This took place before the start of Easter week. It is a tradition to fly the national flag of a Commonwealth nation when a representative attends Evensong on or around their national day. Therefore, the claim made in the post is misleading.
