Pakistan: Christian sentenced to life imprisonment for 'blasphemous text'

The controversial blasphemy law continues to claim victims in Pakistan: Sajjad Masih Gill, a 28-year-old Christian, residing in the district of Pakpatan, in the province of Punjab, was sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of 200 thousand rupees by a court of first instance in Gojra . The ruling was issued on 13 July. Gill, a member of the 'Seventh Day Adventist' Christian community, had been indicted for blasphemy by some Muslim religious leaders and other influential people for sending an SMS from his mobile phone with blasphemous content.

Fides reports that this is the first case of 'blasphemy vis SMS' recorded by the police in Pakistan. "The verdict which condemned Masih was a big surprise, because there is no evidence against him", Catholic lawyer Nadeem Anthony, told Fides.

According to a report of the case sent to Fides by Aftab Alexander Mughal, Director of the magazine 'Minorities Concern of Pakistan,' on December 18, 2011, Malik Muhammad Tariq Saleem, a Muslim resident in Gojra, a cloth merchant, received some blasphemous text messages from a unknown phone. The next day, Tariq was reported to the police in Gojra who registered a complaint for blasphemy, indicting and arresting Sajjad Gill.

Members of the Christian community in Goira, said the accusations are unfounded and Gill is an innocent victim. The charges against him failed to produce any evidence to show proof of guilt: From Gill's cell phone, in fact handed over to the police, there appears to be no blasphemous SMS which was sent, nor are there any eyewitnesses.

Sajjad Masih pleaded not guilty. Gill’s lawyer, pointed out that the police officers who registered the complaint and dealt with the case did not have the authority to investigate a case of blasphemy. In spite of this the judge sentenced Gill to life imprisonment. The defense lawyers say they will appeal to the High Court.

Source: Fides