Dozens protest in Pakistan after Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy

KARACHI, Pakistan — Dozens of Pakistani civil society members rallied in the southern port city of Karachi on Tuesday against the death sentence of a Christian man accused of blasphemy, nearly a year after one of the worst mob attacks on Christians in the country.

Several Christians also joined the rally, which comes a day after a court in Sahiwal, Punjab province, announced the death sentence for Ehsan Shan after finding him guilty of sharing “hateful content” against Muslims on social media.

Shan's lawyer, Khurram Shahzad, said Monday he would appeal the verdict.

He was arrested in August 2023 after Muslim mobs burned down dozens of homes and churches in the Punjab town of Jaranwala after some residents claimed to have seen two Christians desecrating pages of Islam's holy book, the Quran. Both men were later arrested.

Although Shan did not participate in the desecration, he was accused of reposting the defaced pages of the Quran on his TikTok account.

At Tuesday's rally in Karachi, a Christian leader, Luke Victor, called for Shah's release.

He also demanded action against those involved in burning churches and Christian houses in Jaranwala.

Blasphemy charges are common in Pakistan. Under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Muslim religious figures can be sentenced to death. While authorities have not yet carried out a death sentence for blasphemy, a simple accusation can often spark riots and incite mob violence, lynching, and murder.