In a shocking turn of events, a 22-year-old student in Pakistan has been sentenced to death for blasphemy over WhatsApp messages, as reported by BBC on Friday. The Pakistani court ruled that the student had created ‘blasphemous’ content on the messaging application, containing derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad and his wives. Another 17-year-old student has also been sentenced to life imprisonment for sharing the ‘blasphemous’ material, spared from the death penalty due to being a minor.
The cybercrime unit of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore filed a complaint in 2022 regarding the offensive messages. The FIA claimed to have examined the students’ phones, revealing what they described as “obscene material.”
Both students vehemently deny the accusations, asserting that they have been “trapped in a false case,” as reported by BBC. The father of the 22-year-old has filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court against the lower court’s decision, highlighting the severity and contentious nature of the charges.
Blasphemy remains a deeply sensitive issue in Pakistan, where individuals accused of insulting Islam or Islamic figures can face severe consequences, including the death penalty. Shockingly, some accused have even been lynched before their cases reached trial.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by a similar incident last year when a Christian family was accused of blasphemy, resulting in a violent mob setting several churches ablaze in eastern Pakistan. The attack was triggered by accusations of desecrating the Quran, illustrating the high tensions surrounding blasphemy cases in the country.
As the international community watches closely, concerns about the fairness and appropriateness of such extreme sentences continue to grow. The legal battles ahead and the implications for freedom of expression and religious tolerance in Pakistan are sure to be closely monitored.
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