Pakistan: Christian woman sentenced to death
Christian mother sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy on social media
A Christian mother of four in Pakistan has been sentenced to death for sharing allegedly blasphemous messages on WhatsApp.
Kiran was arrested in 2021 after forwarding a WhatsApp message. Her husband claims she did not understand its content. The family has since faced threats, forcing them to move repeatedly. Shagufta joined such discussion groups to proclaim her Christian faith.
Former nurse Shagufta Kiran, 40, received the death sentence on Wednesday (18th September 2024) by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) court in Islamabad. She was also fined 300,000 Pakistani Rupees (more than £800 (€950)).
Mr Hameed told Christian media: “I met Shagufta after the judge issued the sentence and can confirm that she is very hopeful of a positive outcome from the superior courts. However, she misses her family a lot and wants to reunite with them as soon as possible.”
Shagufta’s husband and son were arrested alongside Shagufta in 2021 but were soon released.
The sentencing came more than three years after FIA officers stormed her home in Rawalpindi and arrested her, acting on a complaint that in a WhatsApp discussion group she had shared comments deemed disrespectful to Islam’s Prophet Mohammad.
Shagufta was convicted under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, whereby insulting the Prophet carries a mandatory death sentence.
The international community must take a firm stand and pressure Pakistan to implement safeguards against these abuses. The continuous use of these laws as a tool for persecution is alarming, and the government must prioritize reforms to prevent such miscarriages of justice.”
The international community cannot remain silent. It is crucial that we act now to prevent the further victimization of innocent individuals under these harsh laws. Religious freedom and the protection of minority rights are fundamental to any democracy, and Pakistan must be held accountable for these ongoing violations.”