Christian Youth in Pakistan Sentenced to Death Over Social Media Post

A court in Pakistan has sentenced a Christian youth to death for sharing a social media post that allegedly sparked riots in Jaranwala, a city in Punjab, Pakistan. The riots, which occurred in August last year, led to the vandalism of dozens of Christian homes and around 20 churches.

Judge Ziaullah Khan announced the verdict, which also includes a 22-year prison sentence and a fine of PKR 1 million. The Punjab police had claimed that around 135 people were booked for the attacks on the minority community in Jaranwala, but most have been discharged or freed on bail, with only 12 currently facing trials.

Blasphemy allegations in Pakistan are highly contentious and often result in violence. False accusations are frequently used to settle personal scores or target religious minorities. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has reported numerous instances of false blasphemy accusations, disproportionately affecting minority communities like Christians and Ahmadi Muslims.

International human rights organizations have criticized the misuse of blasphemy laws and the lack of legal safeguards for the accused in Pakistan. Despite international and domestic pressure, the Pakistani government has faced criticism for not amending or repealing these laws.