Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Health Concerns: Physical disability

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

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

Shafqat Emmanuel

Extra Bio Info:

Shafqat Emmanuel was imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

In July 2013, authorities arrested Emmanuel and his wife, Shagufta Kausar, 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). Shafqat was reportedly tortured into confessing. 

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

Emmanuel was reportedly denied adequate medical care while imprisoned. 

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

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

Emmanuel and Kausar reportedly have four children.

Emmanuel is reportedly partially paralyzed.

Related Cases: Shagufta Kausar

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Acquitted

Sentence: Death

Date of Detainment: March/9/2013

Date of Sentencing: March/27/2014

Date of Release: October/15/2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Sawan Masih

Extra Bio Info:

Sawan Masih was imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

On March 9, 2013, authorities arrested Masih, a street sweeper, after he was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a dispute with a friend.  In light of the accusation, a mob of more than 3,000 destroyed more than 100 Christian homes, dozens of businesses, and at least two churches.

On March 27, 2014, Masih was sentenced to death for "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC) in a closed trial in prison.

On October 6, 2020, the Lahore High Court acquitted Masih.

On October 15, 2020, Masih was reportedly released from prison. 

Masih is reportedly a father of three.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: Death

Date of Detainment: April//2016

Date of Sentencing: June/10/2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech Terrorism

Taimoor Raza

Extra Bio Info:

Taimoor Raza is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

In April 2016, authorities arrested Raza after he was accused of insulting various Islamic figures on Facebook. Authorities charged him with "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC), among others.

In June 2017, an anti-terrorism court in Bahawalpur, Punjab, sentenced Raza to death.

Publicly Available Information:
Subscribe to