Pakistani court acquits Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy
The Pakistani Lahore High Court has acquitted Sawan Masih, a Christian man sentenced to death under Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws. Masih was convicted in March 2014, just over a year after he allegedly committed blasphemy.
On the 27th of March 2014, Masih was sentenced to death under Section 295-C by Judge Chaudhry Ghulam Murtaza in a trial held in the Lahore Camp Jail due to security concerns. He was accused by his Muslim friend, Muhammad Shahid, of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a conversation
On appeal, Masih’s lawyer raised several objections to the police investigation and the prosecution. They also pointed to contradictions in the First Information Report (FIR) and the testimony narrated by the complainant before the trial court.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Lahore High Court decided that the prosecution had failed to establish that Masih had committed blasphemy. The court went on to acquit Masih, reversing his death sentence and ordered his release.
There are currently at least twenty-five Christians imprisoned on blasphemy charges in Pakistan.
Source: persecution.org
