Death sentence for Pakistani professor Junaid Hafeez, accused of blasphemy after allegedly criticising Mohammed online
- Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan. Even unproven allegations have led to mob lynchings and vigilante murders
- Acquittal last year of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent more than eight years on death row, provoked violent protests across Pakistan
Junaid Hafeez, 33, was arrested in March 2013 for allegedly posting derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed on social media.
Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in conservative Muslim-majority Pakistan, where laws against it carry a potential death sentence. Even unproven allegations have led to mob lynchings and vigilante murders.
Hafeez’s sentence was announced in central city of Multan, where he was a university professor at the time of his arrest, and his counsel Asad Jamal slammed the decision as “most unfortunate”.
“We will appeal against this verdict,” Jamal said.
There was tight security in and outside Multan prison where the trial was held.
After the verdict, prosecution lawyers distributed sweets among their colleagues, who chanted “Allahu-akbar”(God is great) and “death to blasphemers”.
