Pakistan: British man sentenced to death for blasphemy

A British man has been sentenced to death in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi after being convicted of blasphemy.

Mohammad Asghar, 65, was arrested in 2010 after reportedly writing letters to a number of people, including police officers, claiming to be a prophet, which some believed was insulting to Islam, Pakistan’s state religion to which 97% of the population subscribe.

Asghar has a history of mental illness, for which his lawyer argued for leniency in his sentencing, but this claim was rejected by a medical panel.

His lawyer told the BBC‘s Saba Eitizaz that she was forcibly ejected from the courtroom, with the proceedings carried out behind closed doors. She has said that she will appeal the decision.

Whilst Asghar has been sentenced to death by the court, Pakistan has had a moratorium on executions since 2008, and so he is unlikely to be killed by the state.

This case is the most recent in a number of recent trials for blasphemy in Pakistan which have prompted international concern as they are frequently abused to settle personal scores and target minority groups.

10 Comments

Sick of Evil religions on January 30, 2014 6:23 pm

another sick religion along with all the others.. when will god believing morons realise there is no god and all their pathetic religions do is call hatred and division? all religion is evil. To believe in afterlifes, gods, prophets etc is for the stupid.
- rizalb12 b on January 31, 2014 12:55 pm
  
  at its very late, the answer will comes as soon as we die. ;)
  - religions on February 27, 2014 8:57 am
    
    Religions are fairytales for adults, get real son. Think about it for a while, the idea of god itself is an insult to intelligence
    - rizalb12 on February 27, 2014 5:30 pm
      
      at its very late, the answer will comes as soon as you die. ;)
Wastrel Way on February 14, 2014 6:15 pm

Mohammad Asghar. Peculiar “British” name.

It seems the man must be deranged. In Britain, as in the US, you can claim to be a prophet and there are no criminal consequences. You have to be crazy to do it in Pakistan, though.
Aussiehopper on February 21, 2014 10:22 pm

there is no God, get real, and all Pakistanis are Cuckoo anyway.
- rizalb12 on February 27, 2014 5:32 pm
  
  if you are to eager to prove there is no God, then just give death a try. :)
  - Aussiehopper on February 28, 2014 4:52 am
    
    Blasphemy is Bullshit.
  - A T Hedley on February 28, 2014 12:39 pm
    
    WHAT A STUPID RESPONSE!
    
    Not believing in God has absolutely nothing to do with wanting to die early, just the opposite. If we only get one shot at this existence live it to the full and enjoy it as long as you can, because there is no repeat performance. If there is a God and he approves of the sick, violent, murderous, bestial behaviour committed by man in his name, he should be certified
    - rizalb12 on March 17, 2014 5:57 am
      
      Quick sarcastic + humorous-scent remark is never meant to be deem as an intelligent or smart remark,
      
      Hedley throughout your life had you ever make any sarcastic remark ? I am sure the honest you will say – Yes, and next time when you do, do you mind to notify me or others for them to judge how intelligent your sarcastic response are ? :)