Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: June/29/2019

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Sunny Mushtaq

Extra Bio Info:

Sunny Mushtaq is imprisoned and sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy.

In June 2019, authorities arrested 19-year-old Sunny Mushtaq and his friend, Noman Asghar, for receiving images deemed blasphemous via WhatsApp. Authorities charged him with "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC). 

In May 2023, the Bahawalpur Magistrate Court convicted Mushtaq and sentenced him to death.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Health Concerns: Kidney stones

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Date of Detainment: November/24/2017

Date of Release: January//2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Nadeem Samson

Extra Bio Info:

Nadeem Samson was detained for blasphemy.

On November 24, 2017, authorities arrested Samson after he was accused of committing blasphemy on Facebook following a property dispute.  Police allegedly tortured him into confessing. He was reportedly charged with "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC).

Samson reportedly lived in inhumane conditions at the District Jail in Lahore, where he had been denied adequate medical care for treating kidney stones.

Samson's family reportedly faced threats of violence while Samson was imprisoned.

On January 6, 2022, the Supreme Court granted Samson bail.

In January 2022, Samson was released on bail.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Acquitted

Sentence: Originally Death

Date of Detainment: July//2013

Date of Sentencing: April/4/2014

Date of Release: July/1/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech

Shagufta Kausar

Extra Bio Info:

Shagufta Kausar was imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

In July 2013, authorities Kausar and her husband, Shafqat Emmanuel, for allegedly sending blasphemous texts.  The content of the messages is unclear.  The two were reportedly charged with "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC), "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC), and "causing annoyance, intimidation, and harassment" (Sec. 25-D Telegraph Act, 1885).

On April 4, 2014, Kausar and Emmanuel were sentenced to death.

On June 3, 2021, Kausar and Emmanuel were acquitted.

On July 1, 2021, Emmanuel and Kausar were released from prison.

Kausar and Emmanuel reportedly have four children.

Related Cases: Shafqat Emmanuel

Publicly Available Information:
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