Pakistani student sentenced to death over ‘blasphemous’ WhatsApp messages
A court in Punjab Province, Pakistan, has sentenced a 22-year-old student to death for blasphemy over Whatsapp messages, while a 17-year-old received life imprisonment in the same case. Both defendants deny the charges.
The court ruled that the 22-year-old shared blasphemous pictures and videos to outrage the religious sentiments of Muslims. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, where some individuals have been lynched before their cases go to trial.
The complaint, filed in 2022 by Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cybercrime unit in Lahore, was referred to a local court in Gujranwala. The judges found the older defendant guilty of preparing derogatory material about Prophet Muhammad and his wives, while the younger one was sentenced for sharing the content.
The FIA confirmed the receipt of obscene material on the plaintiff's phone, supporting the allegations. However, defense lawyers argued that the students were ensnared in a false case.
The father of the condemned student plans to appeal the verdict in the Lahore High Court. The minor defendant received life imprisonment due to his age.
Blasphemy laws in Pakistan originated during British colonial rule and were expanded in the 1980s under military government.
In August, violence erupted in Jaranwala after allegations of Quran desecration, leading to church and home burnings.
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