Student Sentenced To Death Over Blasphemy Whatsapp Messages
Pakistan Court has sentenced a 22 year old student to death over alleged blasphemy through WhatsApp messages. The court made this decision on Friday, 8th March, 2024.
The court accused him of sharing blasphemous pictures and videos with the purported intention of inciting religious outrage among Muslims. Alongside him, a 17-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the same case, despite both defendants vehemently denying any wrongdoing.
Blasphemy, a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, carries the ultimate penalty of death. Tragically, some accused individuals have faced extrajudicial violence, including lynching, before their cases even reach trial.
The case traces back to 2022 when the cybercrime unit of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore received a complaint. This complaint led to the trial in the city of Gujranwala.
In this recent ruling, the judges cited evidence of the 22-year-old’s involvement in preparing and disseminating derogatory material against Prophet Muhammad and his wives. Meanwhile, the younger defendant received a life sentence for sharing similar material.
The plaintiff alleged receiving the offensive content from three different mobile numbers, which the FIA confirmed upon examining the plaintiff’s phone.
Notably, defense lawyers argued that the accused students had fallen victim to a fabricated case. The father of the student facing the death penalty expressed his intention to appeal the verdict in the Lahore High Court.
Regarding the discrepancy in sentencing between the two defendants, the court explained that the minor received life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.
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Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have a contentious history, initially codified during British rule and expanded in the 1980s under military governance. Incidents of violence erupt periodically, such as the torching of homes and churches in Jaranwala last August after accusations against two Christian men of damaging the Quran.
This latest case reignites debates about the balance between religious sensitivities and human rights, highlighting the ongoing struggle within Pakistan’s legal system to address allegations of blasphemy while ensuring fair trials and protection against vigilante justice.