The remains of a house burnt to the ground by a mob in Lahore, March 2013. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Masih was convicted last week of blasphemy, which occurred during a conversation with a Muslim friend in the Joseph Colony neighbourhood of Lahore in March last year.
"We have filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court against the death sentence awarded to Sawan Masih and called for his acquittal and release from jail," his lawyer Naeem Shakir told AFP.
More than 3,000 rioters rampaged through Joseph Colony, torching some 100 Christian homes in Lahore, after the allegations against Masih emerged.
Police had initially said they would investigate whether or not Muslim businessmen in the area may have instigated the violence with the aim of seizing Christians' land, or to exploit the blasphemy allegations for political gain.
Shakir said the circumstances in which the incident took place cast "serious doubts" over the prosecution's case.
He added his client had told the court the blasphemy charges "were fabricated by the elements who wanted to occupy the property of Joseph Colony."
There is a de facto moratorium on civilian hangings since 2008. Only one person has been executed since then, a soldier convicted by court martial.
COMMENTS (6)
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Pakistani Minorities are facing critical conditions whereas in Sindh, Hindus has being Targeted and some fanatic person has involve sanctity of temple even diminishing the temple, kidnapping, killing its the scenario of Sindh. Furthermore, in Panjab christens are being targeted in blasphemy cases. Moreover in Gilgit-Bultistan, Shia are on the front line some people killing them one by one . whats matter with minorities, where is Human Right Commission??
Sexton Blake, you make an invidious comparison in your published comment here. Executing people for "Blasphemy" cannot be compared to anything on Earth. It is an anachronistic custom.
Why is someone being even tried, convicted, and sentence to death in this case? What is Sawan Masih's crime here? Did killed anyone? Did he steal from someone? Did he obstruct someone from exercising his/her freedom? His only crime is that he was brave enough to have intellectual conversation with someone who on the other hand has no tolerance to hear the difference of opinion. What a shame! This is a gross violation of basic human rights and there is no room for blasphemy laws in civil society. Where is the consciousness of People of Pakistan? Why there is no leader in the country speaking out against these sub-standard laws which have no bases in the jurisprudent.
Said it before and here it is again : Blasphemy law should be repealed immediately. It is being misused by people as the burden of proof is on the accused not the accuser.
In any case, it is a man-made law and not a divine revelation that it cannot be repealed.