Dozens demonstrate in Pakistan after Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy

KARACHI, Pakistan – Dozens of members of Pakistan’s civil society demonstrated in the southern port city of Karachi on Tuesday against the death sentence of a Christian for blasphemy, nearly a year after one of the worst mob attacks on Christians in the country.

Several Christians also took part in the rally, which took place a day after a court in Sahiwal, Punjab province, pronounced the death sentence on Ehsan Shan, who was found guilty of spreading “hateful content” against Muslims on social media.

Shan’s lawyer Khurram Shahzad said on Monday he would appeal the verdict.

He was arrested in August 2023 after groups of Muslim men burned down dozens of homes and churches in the Punjab town of Jaranwala after some residents claimed they saw two Christian men desecrating pages from Islam’s holy book, the Quran. The two men were later arrested.

Although Shan was not involved in the desecration, he was accused of reposting the defaced pages of the Quran on his TikTok account.

At a rally in Karachi on Tuesday, Christian leader Luke Victor called for the release of the Shah.

He also called for action against those who burned down churches and houses of Christians in Jaranwala.

Blasphemy accusations are widespread in Pakistan. Under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death. While authorities have not yet carried out a death sentence for blasphemy, a mere accusation can often spark riots and incite mobs to violence, lynching and murder.