Pakistan: Court frees Catholic convicted of blasphemy after 23 years in prison

Photo by Hamid Roshaan on Unsplash

Source: UCAN, HRW

The Pakistani Supreme Court's has freed Anwar Kenneth, a mentally ill Catholic man, who spent 23 years on death row after being convicted of committing blasphemy.

Three judges overturned the conviction on 25 June after doctors reportedly confirmed his mental illness. The court said an individual with a mental illness cannot be held criminally liable.

Kenneth, who is now 72, was arrested in 2001 for allegedly writing letters about the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. In July 2002, a court in Lahore, sentenced him to death for blasphemy and fined him 17,985 US Dollars.

Despite appeals and medical reports confirming his mental disorder, the Lahore High Court upheld the sentence in 2014.

Dominican Father James Channan, director of the Peace Center in Lahore, welcomed the news that Mr Kenneth has been freed.

He said: "Thanks to the judges of the Supreme Court for doing justice. Justice is delayed but justice is done." But he added: "I lament that Anwar Kenneth has lost very precious 23 years of his life. Now, those who falsely accused him of blasphemy must be put behind bars - at least for 23 years," the priest said.

"Moreover, our authorities and law makers must look into the grave misuse of blasphemy laws. And assure that they are not misused and not used to settle personal scores."

In a new report, Human Rights Watch says there has been a sharp rise in blasphemy cases from 11 in 2020 to at least 475 in 2024 - many of which were sparked by rumours on social media.