Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Thursday sentenced a Christian woman to death in a blasphemy case.
In September 2020, a case was registered under the blasphemy law against Shouta Karan, accused of sharing derogatory material about the Prophet of Islam in a WhatsApp group.
After the trial, Islamabad Special Court Judge Afzal Majuka found him guilty under Section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 300,000 on Karan.
Additionally, the court also sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 100,000 under Section 11 of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
The judge, in a brief order, said the convict has the right to file an appeal in the high court within 30 days of the verdict.
Judge Majuka said the sentence would not be carried out until the High Court approved the verdict.
Karan is the second Christian woman to be sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet and the religion of Islam.
Earlier, Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, was jailed for eight years, but a bench headed by former Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court Asif Saeed Khosa acquitted her in October 2018.
After her acquittal, Bibi went to Canada with her family.
The blasphemy law was created in the 1980s by former military ruler Ziaul Haq. People accused of blasphemy are often targeted by extremists.
According to the think tank Center for Social Justice (CSJ), nearly 3,000 people have been charged with blasphemy since 1987.
The CSJ said at least seven people accused of blasphemy have been killed by individuals or mobs across Pakistan since January this year.
A total of 94 people accused of blasphemy have been killed in mob attacks between 1994 and 2023.
In September 2020, a case was registered under the blasphemy law against Shouta Karan, accused of sharing derogatory material about the Prophet of Islam in a WhatsApp group.
After the trial, Islamabad Special Court Judge Afzal Majuka found him guilty under Section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 300,000 on Karan.
Additionally, the court also sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 100,000 under Section 11 of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
The judge, in a brief order, said the convict has the right to file an appeal in the high court within 30 days of the verdict.
Judge Majuka said the sentence would not be carried out until the High Court approved the verdict.
Karan is the second Christian woman to be sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet and the religion of Islam.
Earlier, Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, was jailed for eight years, but a bench headed by former Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court Asif Saeed Khosa acquitted her in October 2018.
After her acquittal, Bibi went to Canada with her family.
The blasphemy law was created in the 1980s by former military ruler Ziaul Haq. People accused of blasphemy are often targeted by extremists.
According to the think tank Center for Social Justice (CSJ), nearly 3,000 people have been charged with blasphemy since 1987.
The CSJ said at least seven people accused of blasphemy have been killed by individuals or mobs across Pakistan since January this year.
A total of 94 people accused of blasphemy have been killed in mob attacks between 1994 and 2023.
