Defense lawyers have criticized a decision by the Pakistan Supreme Court to uphold the death sentence for “blasphemy” against Christian father-of-three Qaiser Ayub, 49.
They described as “devastating” the court’s dismissal on October 7 of Qaiser’s appeal against his conviction under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly defiling the name of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.
The defense team welcomed the court’s decision to acquit Qaiser’s younger brother Amoon, 46, of an identical conviction but questioned how the same evidence could apply differently against the two men.
The Pakistan Supreme Court. [Image Credit: Uroojmirza71/Wikipedia]
“If the evidence against one brother was insufficient, how can the other be sent to the gallows based on evidence from the same case?” asked Nasir Saeed, director of the Center for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which helped the brothers.
Qaiser and Amoon, from Lahore, were accused of publishing “blasphemous” content on a website registered in Qaiser’s name in 2011. They were convicted and sentenced to death in 2018.
However, Qaiser, a computer science graduate, maintained that he shut the website in 2009. He said it was revived by a Muslim acquaintance who retained Qaiser’s name in the copyright details.
Saeed said the brothers’ conviction relied largely on digital evidence from a seized laptop, which required the highest standards of verification.
The lawyer urged the government to spare Qaiser’s life. He also called for the strengthening of safeguards against the misuse of Pakistan’s “blasphemy” laws and emphasised the need to hold accusers accountable in cases of wrongful implication.
Human Cost of Years of Incarceration
The human cost of the brothers’ case was also questioned by Voices for the Victims of Blasphemy Business Group, which supports families caught up in “blasphemy” allegations.
“If Amoon Ayub has been acquitted after such a prolonged legal ordeal, who will answer for the 16 years taken from his life?” asked the group in a statement.
“Justice cannot be measured only by the final verdict. It must also consider the human cost of prolonged incarceration, the consequences of wrongful implication, the suffering of families, and the years of life that can never be returned,” it said.
Pakistan’s “blasphemy” laws are often used to make false accusations in order to settle personal grudges.
Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which refers to defiling the name of Muhammad, carries the death penalty, although this sentence has never yet been carried out.
Christians acquitted under “blasphemy” laws are often forced to go into hiding following their release because of the risk of attack from extremists who will not accept the verdicts of the courts.
How You Can Pray
Pray for strength and courage for Qaiser and ask that the campaign to clear his name will result in his freedom. Give thanks for the acquittal of Amoon. Pray for protection for the brothers and their families against any action by extremists.
