An anti‑terrorism court in northwest Pakistan has convicted and sentenced a Muslim man to death after he was accused of posting blasphemous content in a WhatsApp group. Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in the Muslim‑majority country, where even unproven allegations can provoke mobs and violence.
Syed Muhammad Zeeshan was found guilty under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the Anti‑Terrorist Act by a court in Peshawar on Friday. The court order, obtained by AFP, states: “Accused Syed Muhammad Zeeshan, son of Syed Zakaullah, in custody has been convicted and sentenced after being found guilty.” In addition to the death sentence, Zeeshan, a resident of the northwest city of Mardan, was fined 1.2 million rupees (about $4,300) and handed a total of 23 years imprisonment. He retains the right to appeal.
The case originated two years ago when Muhammad Saeed, a resident of Talagang in Punjab province, filed an application with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) accusing Zeeshan of posting blasphemous material in a WhatsApp group. Saeed’s counsel, Ibrar Hussain, told AFP that the FIA confiscated Zeeshan’s cell phone and that a forensic examination proved his guilt.
While Pakistan’s blasphemy laws can carry a potential death penalty, the sentence has never previously been enforced for the crime. Many cases involve Muslims accusing fellow Muslims, but rights activists warn that religious minorities—particularly Christians—are often caught in the crossfire, with blasphemy charges used to settle personal scores. According to the National Commission of Justice and Peace, a human‑rights and legal‑aid group in Pakistan, 774 Muslims and 760 members of various minority religious groups have been accused of blasphemy in the last 20 years.
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