BBC News, 5
April 2014
 |
| Human rights groups say Pakistan's blasphemy laws are often used to target minorities, including Christians |
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Stories
A Pakistani
Christian couple have been sentenced to death for blasphemy after allegedly
sending a text message insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
The couple,
named as Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, were found guilty of sending the
text message to the imam of their local mosque.
Allegations
of blasphemy against Islam are taken very seriously in Pakistan.
Several
recent cases have prompted international concern about the application of
blasphemy laws.
The imam
brought a complaint against the couple last July.
The
couple's lawyer told the BBC he would appeal against the sentences and said the
trial had not been conducted fairly.
Pakistan
has a de fact moratorium on the death penalty so it is unlikely the couple will
be executed.
They come
from the town of Gojra in Punjab, previously the scene of communal violence.
In 2009 the
rumoured desecration of a copy of the Koran led to a mob burning nearly 40
houses and a church in Gojra. At least eight members of Christian community
died in the violence.
Minorities
targeted
Since the
1990s, scores of Christians have been convicted for desecrating the Koran or
blaspheming against the Prophet Mohammed.
While most
of them have been sentenced to death by the lower courts, many sentences have
been overturned due to lack of evidence.
Critics
argue that Pakistan's blasphemy laws are frequently misused to settle personal
scores and that members of minority groups are also unfairly targeted.
Muslims
constitute a majority of those prosecuted, followed by the minority Ahmadi
community.
In 2012 the
arrest of a young Christian girl, Rimsha Masih, on blasphemy charges provoked
international outrage. After being detained in a high security prison for
several weeks she was eventually released and her family subsequently fled to
Canada.
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