Pakistan court sentences 4 men to death over ‘online blasphemy’
Pakistan criminalizes blasphemy against Islam and Prophet Muhammad with death and life sentences
Updated: January 28, 2025 04:29 AM GMT
A Pakistan court sentenced four men to death for posting blasphemous content online, a prosecution lawyer said on Jan. 27.
“They were sentenced to death… on Friday [Jan. 24] for spreading blasphemous content online,” Rao Abdur Raheem, a lawyer from the Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan, a private group that brought the case to court, said
“Our case was supported by forensic evidence from the devices used in this heinous act,” he added.
The four men were sentenced in Rawalpindi, the garrison city that neighbors the national capital, Islamabad.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in the prosecution of “online blasphemy” cases, with private vigilante groups bringing charges against hundreds of young individuals for allegedly committing blasphemy.
In conservative Pakistan, blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad is a serious criminal offense that warrants death and life sentences. Critics say the law is often exploited for personal gains, such as settling personal disputes and for monetary purposes.
The four Muslim men sentenced to death for posting blasphemous content online are aged 20 to 32 years and hail from Punjab province, said a member of Voice of the Victims of Blasphemy Business Group, a support group formed by the families affected by the alleged blasphemy gang.
“Three of them are from Lahore, while one is from Bahawalpur. They were trapped in the same pattern of being lured into social media groups where controversial content was shared. They were also tricked into saving the blasphemous content on their phones and sharing it with others,” he told UCA News, requesting anonymity.
“Their parents are worried and are at a loss about what to do. Their lawyer was hopeful of the acquittal, but the judges were not ready to listen to our pleas. Everything looks pre-planned.”
Nasir William, a member of the Lahore-based advocacy group Center for Social Justice (CSJ), expressed his concern at the increasing cases registered on allegations of blasphemy.
“Activists are slowly holding press conferences urging government authorities to intervene and provide long-overdue redress to these victims. The National Assembly Standing Committee will discuss this issue in a session on Jan. 27 evening. At least these victims have a right to appeal in a higher court,” said William.
The CSJ data shows blasphemy cases were filed against 343 persons last year. These include 19 Christians, five of them females.
