Pakistani Man Sentenced To Death For WhatsApp Group Message

Peshawar: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced a Muslim man to death for posting blasphemous content in a WhatsApp group.

The man, identified as Syed Muhammad Zeeshan, was convicted under Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Anti-Terrorist Act by the Peshawar court on Friday.

“Accused Syed Muhammad Zeeshan, son of Syed Zakaullah, in custody has been convicted and sentenced after being found guilty,” AFP quoted the court order as saying.

Zeeshan, a resident of the northwest city of Mardan, was handed 23-year imprisonment and also fined 1.2 million rupees.

He has the right to appeal.

Muhammad Saeed, a resident of Talagang in Punjab province, filed an application with Federal Investigation Agency two years ago accusing Zeeshan of posting blasphemous content in a WhatsApp group, Saeed’s counsel Ibrar Hussain told AFP.

“FIA had confiscated Zeeshan’s cell phone and its forensic examination proved him guilty,” he said.

Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan, with even unproven allegations leading to mobs and violence.

Pakistan’s laws prohibiting blasphemy can lead to a potential death sentence, but it has not been enforced previously.

According to National Commission of Justice and Peace, a human rights and legal aid group in Pakistan, 774 Muslims and 760 members of different minority religious groups have been accused of blasphemy in last 2 decades.