Court announces death sentence for accused in Joseph Colony blasphemy case

Sawan Masih's lawyer says they will appeal the sentence in the Lahore High Court.


Afp March 27, 2014
More than 150 houses of Christians living in the Joseph Colony were torched by an angry mob in March last year. PHOTO: REUTERS

LAHORE: Almost a year after riots in Joseph Colony of Lahore saw 100 Christian houses being burnt, a court on Thursday sentenced a Christian man at the heart of the controversy that triggered the riots to death for blasphemy, his lawyer said.

Sawan Masih was convicted of committing blasphemy during the course of a conversation with a Muslim friend in March last year.

After allegations against Masih emerged, more than 3,000 people had rampaged through Joseph Colony, torching some 100 Christian homes.

Naeem Shakir, one of Masih's lawyers, told AFP that "the judge has announced the death sentence for Sawan Masih."

"We will appeal the sentence in the Lahore High Court."

The verdict and sentence were announced inside the jail where Masih was held, Shakir said.

Masih has maintained his innocence and argued that the real reason for the blasphemy allegation was a property dispute between him and his friend.

No one was killed in the rampage through Joseph Colony last year but the incident highlighted the sensitivity towards blasphemy.

A recent report from a US government advisory panel said Pakistan used blasphemy laws more than any other country in the world; listing 14 people on death row and 19 others serving life sentences.

In January 2014, an elderly Briton was sentenced to death for blasphemy, though his lawyers said the court failed to consider "overwhelming" evidence of his mental illness.

COMMENTS (14)

kk | 9 years ago | Reply i request all my learned fellows who r speaking against the Blasphemy Law to go to Europe and also speak against holocaust just for debate and then see what happens
Tarakseel | 10 years ago | Reply

So long as the blasphemy lawis there on the book such caseswill be there in abundance,I think Islam is notso weak that it rquire the help of such laws and poor Hindus Christians and Sikhs who are very small in numbers can not think about taking such steps which put their lieves in danger.

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