Additional Name(s): Ihsan Ahmad
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Ahmadiyya
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Death Sentence Overturned
Sentence: Originally Death + 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/18/2014
Date of Sentencing: October/11/2017
Date of Release: January/14/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Blasphemy (Religious Figures)
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech
Ehsan Ahmad
Extra Bio Info:
Ehsan Ahmad was imprisoned for blasphemy.
On May 13, 2014, authorities arrested Ahmad alongside three others after they were accused of tearing down posters containing religious content in Bhoiwal. The police report filed against them in March 2014 alleged that they had violated Penal Code Sections 295-A, 337-2, and 427. Police later released Ahmad after Khalil Ahmad, who was arrested with Ahmad, was killed in police custody.
On July 18, 2014, Ahmad was arrested again.
In March 2015, "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC) was added to Ahmad's charge sheet.
On October 11, 2017, Ahmad was sentenced to death.
On December 8, 2021, the Lahore High Court acquitted Ahmad of "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC). Nevertheless, Ahmad remained sentenced to ten years in prison on the charge of "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC).
On January 14, 2022, Ahmad was released from prison after completing his sentence.
Related Cases: Ghulam Ahmad, Mubashar Ahmad
Publicly Available Information:
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Ahmadiyya
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Death Sentence Overturned
Sentence: Originally Death + 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/18/2014
Date of Sentencing: October/11/2017
Date of Release: January/14/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Blasphemy (Religious Figures)
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech
Mubashar Ahmad
Extra Bio Info:
Mubashar Ahmad was imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy-related offenses.
On May 13, 2014, authorities arrested Ahmad alongside three others for allegedly tearing down posters containing religious content in Bhoiwal. The police report filed against them in March 2014 alleged that they had violated Penal Code Sections 295-A, 337-2, and 427. Police later released Ahmad after Khalil Ahmad, who was arrested with Ahmad, was killed in police custody.
On July 18, 2014, Ahmad was arrested again.
In March 2015, "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC) was added to Ahmad's charge sheet.
On October 11, 2017, Ahmad was sentenced to death.
On December 8, 2021, the Lahore High Court acquitted Ahmad of "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC). Nevertheless, Ahmad remained sentenced to ten years in prison on the charge of "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC).
On January 14, 2022, Ahmad was released from prison after completing his sentence.
Related Cases: Ghulam Ahmad, Ehsan Ahmad
Publicly Available Information:
Jul 9, 2021
In 2015, USCIRF for the first time recommended the Central African Republic (CAR) be designated by the State Department a Country of Particular Concern for systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom following years of sectarian violence that erupted after a 2013 coup. As the violence against religious minority communities subsided in subsequent years, in 2020, USCIRF recommended CAR be placed on the State Department’s Special Watchlist, a step in the right direction. While concerns for religious freedom in CAR remain, there has been further notable progress during the past year.
In its most recent 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF did not recommend CAR be included on the State Department’s Special Watchlist or be designated a Country of Particular Concern. Today we will learn more about what prompted the decision to remove CAR from the Special Watchlist recommendation, what progress has been made, and what challenges remain for religious freedom and religious minorities in CAR. Joining us to provide insight into the situation is USCIRF Policy Analyst for West and Central Africa, Madeline Vellturo, and Dr. Gino Vlavonou, a Consulting Program Officer with the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum at the Social Science Research Council.
USCIRF Recently released a Country Update on CAR
Read our 2021 Annual Report