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Pakistani professor gets death sentence in blasphemy case
Source: Associated Press
Pakistani professor gets death sentence in blasphemy case
By ASIM TANVEER
December 21, 2019
MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani court on Saturday convicted a Muslim professor of blasphemy, sentencing him to death for allegedly spreading anti-Islamic ideas.
Junaid Hafeez has been held for six years awaiting trial. He’s spent most of that time in solitary confinement because he would likely be killed if kept with the general population, local media have reported. Due to security concerns, Saturday’s trial was held inside the jail where Hafeez is being held.
Defense attorney Shahbaz Gormani said his client was wrongly convicted and that the verdict would be appealed.
Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law carries an automatic death penalty for anyone accused of insulting God, Islam or other religious figures.
-snip-
By ASIM TANVEER
December 21, 2019
MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani court on Saturday convicted a Muslim professor of blasphemy, sentencing him to death for allegedly spreading anti-Islamic ideas.
Junaid Hafeez has been held for six years awaiting trial. He’s spent most of that time in solitary confinement because he would likely be killed if kept with the general population, local media have reported. Due to security concerns, Saturday’s trial was held inside the jail where Hafeez is being held.
Defense attorney Shahbaz Gormani said his client was wrongly convicted and that the verdict would be appealed.
Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law carries an automatic death penalty for anyone accused of insulting God, Islam or other religious figures.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/2cf2efdb2284dcd922b9c308e3832a8b
7 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Mr Hafeez's first lawyer, Rashid Rehman, was shot dead in 2014 after agreeing to take on the case.
The lecturer has also spent years in solitary confinement, after repeated attacks by other prisoners.
...
Mr Hafeez's current counsel Asad Jamal said the verdict was "most unfortunate", and told AFP news agency that they would appeal against the decision.
Prosecution lawyers, meanwhile, distributed sweets to their colleagues, who chanted "Allahu akbar" and "death to blasphemers".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50878432
The lecturer has also spent years in solitary confinement, after repeated attacks by other prisoners.
...
Mr Hafeez's current counsel Asad Jamal said the verdict was "most unfortunate", and told AFP news agency that they would appeal against the decision.
Prosecution lawyers, meanwhile, distributed sweets to their colleagues, who chanted "Allahu akbar" and "death to blasphemers".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50878432
Because nothing says "we're a 21st century country" like trivialising the execution of a man for a victimless "crime" as if it were a birthday. After their side had murdered an innocent lawyer who had antiquated notions of defending an accused man.