Christian Woman Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy in Islamabad

In a significant ruling that has drawn widespread attention, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Court in Islamabad has sentenced a Christian woman, Shagufta Kiran, to death for blasphemy. This decision, made by Judge Afzal Majoka on September 18, 2023, also included life imprisonment for Muhammad Hasim, while another individual, Aftab Nazir, was acquitted of the charges. The case against Kiran was initiated on July 21, 2021, following a complaint lodged at the Cyber Crime Reporting Center in Islamabad.

The complaint, filed by Shiraz Ahmed Farooqi, alleged that Kiran had been involved in uploading blasphemous content across various platforms, including Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Messenger. It was claimed that she had also sent such content via WhatsApp. Following the complaint, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted a raid, seizing multiple devices, including mobile phones, SIM cards, a laptop, a tablet, and a CPU. During the investigation, it was revealed that Kiran was one of the administrators of a group linked to the alleged blasphemous content, which was reportedly created by an Indian national named Aameer Faisal.

In the court's judgment, it was noted that simply matching a voice is insufficient for a conviction unless it is proven that the content indeed contained blasphemous material. A forensic officer presented a written transcript of two out of 18 audio recordings, while a total of 76,000 audio files from WhatsApp groups were examined, with 84 audios attributed to Kiran being presented in court.

During the proceedings, Kiran maintained her innocence, stating, "I am a poor Christian lady, and the complainant, with the collusion of FIA officials, falsely charged me to score points in the eyes of the public. I have not committed the offense and can never think at all of disgracing the noble personalities of Islam." She expressed that she had been victimized due to a personal grudge and insisted on her respect for her own religion, Christianity.

Despite her claims, the court found sufficient evidence to convict Kiran under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The court imposed a death sentence along with a fine of Rs. 300,000. Should Kiran fail to pay the fine, she will face an additional six months of simple imprisonment. Furthermore, she was convicted under section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, receiving a seven-year sentence and an additional fine of Rs. 100,000, with a month of simple imprisonment for non-payment.

The ruling has sparked discussions about the implications of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, particularly concerning religious minorities. The case highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the protection of religious sentiments in a country where blasphemy accusations can lead to severe consequences. As the legal process continues, with the death penalty subject to confirmation by the Islamabad High Court, many are left to ponder the broader societal impacts of such laws and the need for a more nuanced approach to issues of faith and expression.