Man sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy

On Mar 28, 2023

A woman holds a placard during a rally by dozens protesting the killing of the Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer in Lahore, January 8, 2011. Taseer was shot dead by one of his guards, who was apparently incensed by the politician's opposition to the blasphemy law, in Islamabad on January 4. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza (PAKISTAN - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CRIME LAW) - RTXWBRK

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – A man has been sentenced to death in Pakistan over a WhatsApp post, judged by an anti-terrorism court to be blasphemous.

Syed Muhammad Zeeshan was charged under the country’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Anti-Terrorist Act and was also fined £3,500.

The Independent reports that in January, Pakistan extended the punishment for blasphemy to those convicted for insulting religious figures connected to the prophet Muhammad.

It says this raised concerns that prosecutions would increase for religious minorities including Hindus and Christians.