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Peshawar, Pakistan: A Muslim man in Pakistan’s the northwest city of Mardan is sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court for a blasphemous post in a WhatsApp group.
The court in northwest Pakistan convicted Syed Muhammad Zeeshan under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Anti-Terrorist Act on Friday, according to news agency AFP.
Blasphemy, despite unproven or based on hearsay, can reportedly provoke extreme reaction in the nation often leading to angry mobs stirring up violence in the streets.
The court order reportedly said ‘Accused Syed Muhammad Zeeshan, son of Syed Zakaullah in custody has been convicted and sentenced after being found guilty’.
Zeeshan, who is a resident of Mardan, was fined 1.2 million alongside being slapped with a total of 23 years imprisonment, while allowing him to appeal, according to the report.
The case against Zeeshan came up after a resident of Talagang in Punjab province, Muhammad Saeed, approached Federal Investigation Agency two years ago accusing him of posting ‘blasphemous content’ in a WhatsApp group.
FIA put his phone to forensic examination before confirming that he was guilty of the charges.
Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws that can carry death sentence has not so far been enforced, according to the report.
Rights groups have long been warning that religious minorities often get caught while Muslims accuse fellow Muslims of blasphemy as it is used as a means to settle personal scores.