On 18th September 2024, the Islamabad Cyber Court handed down a death sentence to Shagufta Kiran, a Christian mother of four, for allegedly committing blasphemy. Alongside the death penalty, Shagufta was fined 300,000 Pakistani Rupees, marking yet another controversial case under Pakistan’s stringent blasphemy laws.

Background of the Case:

Shagufta Kiran was arrested in July 2021 after being accused of forwarding a WhatsApp message that purportedly contained blasphemous content. The arrest occurred in the early hours of the morning, without a warrant, when armed agents from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) raided her home in Islamabad. Alongside Shagufta, her two young sons, ages 10 and 12, were also taken into custody, though they were later released.

The alleged crime dates back to September 2020, when Shagufta, a member of several interfaith WhatsApp groups, reportedly forwarded the controversial message. According to her husband, Rafique Masih, Shagufta forwarded the message without reading it and had no malicious intent. Despite this, she was charged under several sections of Pakistan’s Penal Code, including sections 295-A and 295-C, which pertain to insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The latter carries the death penalty, while the former is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Shagufta’s family had to flee Islamabad due to death threats from extremist groups after her arrest, and she spent days in custody enduring interrogation before being transferred to Adiala Central Jail.

The Role of Blasphemy Laws:

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have been a point of international contention for years. Critics argue that the laws, while allegedly aimed at protecting religious sensitivities, are frequently misused to settle personal scores, intimidate minorities, and stifle dissent.

Shagufta’s case seems to exemplify these concerns. She was accused of blasphemy by Shiraz Ahmed Farooqi, a member of the Islamist group Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Namoos-Risalat (TTNR), which campaigns for the protection of the Prophet Muhammad’s honor. Farooqi, along with others from TTNR, had reportedly been monitoring the interfaith WhatsApp groups to which Shagufta belonged.

Shagufta’s defense maintained that she was neither the author of the message nor fully aware of its contents. However, the court found her guilty under Pakistan’s cybercrime and blasphemy laws, a combination that has increasingly been used to target religious minorities in the digital age.

International and Human Rights Reactions:

The international community and human rights organizations have consistently voiced their concerns about Pakistan’s handling of blasphemy cases, specifically where religious minorities are concerned.

The case of Asia Bibi, another Christian woman who was sentenced to death in 2010 under similar charges, drew worldwide attention and condemnation. Asia was acquitted in 2018 after spending eight years on death row, but her case underscored the vulnerabilities faced by minorities under these laws.

Shagufta Kiran’s sentence has sparked renewed calls for reforms. Critics argue that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are draconian, disproportionately target religious minorities, and have been weaponized in personal disputes. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned the laws as inconsistent with fundamental human rights and have called for Pakistan to ensure fair trials and the protection of religious freedoms.

The Emergency Committee to Save the Persecuted and Enslaved (ECSPE) urgently requests prayers for Shagufta Kiran, a Christian mother sentenced to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Shagufta and her family are enduring immense hardship and threats. We ask for your prayers for her safety, strength, and justice and God’s protection over her loved ones as they face this difficult time. Let us unite in prayer for their deliverance and peace.