A Pakistani court has sentenced a Christian man to death for allegedly uploading images of torn Quran pages online, in a case that has ignited controversy and heightened religious tensions in the country.
A court in Pakistan has handed down a death sentence to a Christian man accused of committing blasphemy by posting images of torn pages from the Quran on social media. This ruling was delivered by an anti-terrorism court in Sahiwal, Punjab Province, according to a police spokesperson speaking to the news agency dpa on Monday.
The man was linked to a significant incident that caused nationwide outrage last August in the city of Jaranwala, where severe violence erupted following accusations against two men of desecrating the Quran. They allegedly tore pages from the Quran, threw them on the ground, and defaced them with derogatory remarks. The now-convicted individual was charged with subsequently posting photos of these desecrated pages online, escalating the tension.
The case adds to a troubling series of blasphemy accusations in Pakistan, where allegations often result in extreme violence and mob justice. Just two weeks prior to this verdict, a man was brutally lynched and burned by a mob in the Swat Valley. The mob stormed a police station, overwhelmed the officers, and dragged the man outside, where he was beaten to death with sticks and set on fire. The incident occurred after locals claimed the man had desecrated the Quran.
Such incidents are unfortunately common in Pakistan. In late May, another Christian accused of burning Quran pages was lynched by a mob in Punjab. Similarly, in February 2023, a Muslim man in Punjab was beaten to death by a crowd after being accused of defiling the Quran.
Blasphemy remains a highly sensitive and volatile issue in Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country where such offenses can carry the death penalty. Human rights activists argue that blasphemy accusations are frequently exploited to settle personal vendettas. The country’s blasphemy laws have been criticized for their potential misuse, often leading to severe consequences for the accused without a fair trial.
The recent death sentence underscores the ongoing challenges surrounding blasphemy laws in Pakistan and the severe repercussions for those accused, regardless of the evidence or context. The situation continues to draw international concern over the use of capital punishment in blasphemy cases and the broader implications for religious freedom and human rights in Pakistan.
