A court in Pakistan has handed down a shocking verdict, sentencing a 22-year-old student to death on charges of blasphemy stemming from Whatsapp messages.
The court, situated in Punjab Province accused him of sharing blasphemous content with the purported intent to offend the religious sentiments of Muslims. Alongside him, a 17-year-old was given a life sentence in connection with the same case. Both individuals maintain their innocence.
Strict blasphemy laws in Pakistan
Blasphemy laws in Pakistan carry severe penalties, including death and have sparked widespread controversy due to instances of vigilantism even before formal trial proceedings. The case originated from a complaint filed in 2022 by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cybercrime unit in Lahore, subsequently referred to a local court in Gujranwala.
In their ruling, the judges declared that the 22-year-old student was sentenced to death for allegedly creating and disseminating photos and videos containing derogatory content about Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and his wives. Meanwhile, the younger defendant received a life sentence for sharing the objectionable material.
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The FIA reported that an examination of the plaintiff’s phone confirmed the reception of “obscene material” from multiple phone numbers. However, defense attorneys argue that the accused students were ensnared in a fabricated case.
The father of the death-row convict, whose identity remains undisclosed announced plans to appeal the verdict in the Lahore High Court. The minor defendant received a lesser sentence of life imprisonment due to his age, as stated by the court.
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