The Pakistani authorities should immediately release a Christian man sentenced to death under the country’s draconian blasphemy laws and quash his conviction, Amnesty International said today.
Savan Masih, a Christian road sweeper from Lahore, was today sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy and fined 200,000 rupees. He was arrested on 6 March 2013 after a friend accused him of making blasphemous remarks during an argument.
“This is a travesty of justice. There are serious concerns about the fairness of his trial, and an argument between two friends is not a basis for sending anyone to the gallows. Savan Masih must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.
The vague formulation of the blasphemy laws, along with inadequate investigation by authorities and intimidation by mobs and some religious groups, has promoted vigilantism across Pakistan, especially in the northeastern state of Punjab.
Savan Masih’s arrest provoked a two-day riot in his neighbourhood in Lahore, known as Joseph Colony, when a 3,000-strong mob burned around 200 homes of Christians.
Police were warned of the impending attack but failed to take adequate measures to protect the community. Although dozens of the suspected perpetrators have been charged, nobody has yet been convicted.
“A riot should never have been allowed to effectively destroy of one of Lahore’s oldest Christian neighbourhoods. Savan Masih’s harsh treatment under the law is in stark contrast to how others suspected of deliberately burning down people’s homes have not yet been brought to trial. It sheds light on discrimination against Christians and other religious minorities through blasphemy laws and Pakistan’s justice system in general,” said David Griffiths.
All of the individuals responsible for the attacks on Christian homes must be brought to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.
“Failure to do so will effectively send the message that anyone can commit outrageous abuses and excuse them as defence of religious sentiments,” said David Griffiths.
Blasphemy is punishable by death under Pakistani law, even though it does not meet the threshold of the “most serious crimes”, which are the only crimes for which the death penalty can be imposed under international law.