Pakistani Christian that was sentenced to death files appeal with High Court
On the 8th of September, Asif Pervaiz was sentenced to death by a trial court in Lahore for allegedly committing blasphemy. The legal team defending Pervaiz filed an appeal with the Lahore High Court on the 14th of September seeking to overturn the death sentence.
In October 2013, Saeed Ahmeed Khokar accused Pervaiz of sending him blasphemous text messages from his mobile phone.
According to Pervaiz’s family, Pervaiz and Khokar were coworkers at a garments factory named Shami Textile, located in the Youhanabad neighbourhood of Lahore. At work, Khokar often pressured Pervaiz to convert to Islam, which Pervaiz refused.
Prior to Khokar’s accusation, Pervaiz reportedly lost his mobile phone’s SIM card and did not request the company to deactivate it. According to Pervaiz’s family, Khokar used the lost SIM card to send the blasphemous text messages he used to register the false accusation against Pervaiz.
In Pakistan, false accusations of blasphemy are widespread and often motivated by personal vendettas or religious hatred. Accusations are highly inflammatory and have the potential to spark mob lynchings, vigilante murders, and mass protests.
Source: persecution.org
Image: indiatimes.com
