Pakistani Christian man freed after 23 years on death row for “blasphemy”

A mentally ill Christian man convicted of “blasphemy” in Pakistan has been released after 23 years on death row.

Anwar Kenneth, now 72 years of age, was cleared of the charge on 25 June after doctors confirmed that he was mentally ill when he committed the “blasphemy”.

The court ruled that someone not of sound mind cannot be held criminally liable, so his conviction was overturned.

Anwar was arrested in 2001 for allegedly “blasphemous” letters he was accused of writing about Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.

In 2002, a court in Lahore, Punjab, sentenced him under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which stipulates the death penalty for anybody who “defiles the sacred name” of Muhammad, despite Anwar’s mental illness being already confirmed.

Anwar was also fined five million rupees (at that time around £55,250).

In 2014, when the sentence was appealed with medical reports confirming Anwar’s mental illness, the court upheld the ruling.

Anwar is due to be released in the next few days.

Anwar’s lawyer, Rana Abdul Hameed – himself a Muslim – said that Anwar’s family “will need to arrange for his protection” following his release from prison, as he will be facing death threats from Islamist extremists who consider it a religious duty to kill “blasphemers”.

Hameed shared that following a press conference he held where he demanded an independent probe into misuse of “blasphemy” laws, he himself had received such severe threats that policemen have had to be stationed outside his office.

Mob violence following accusations of “blasphemy” in Pakistan is a common occurrence. Such accusations are often believed, even in the absence of evidence or following an acquittal.