Anwar Kenneth
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Approved
Sentence: Death
Date of Sentencing: July//2002
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Religious Belief Religious Expression
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy
Anwar Kenneth
Extra Bio Info:
Anwar Kenneth was imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.
In 2001, authorities reportedly arrested Kenneth after he was accused of writing letters perceived as blasphemous towards the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an. Kenneth was charged with "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC).
In July 2002, a court in Lahore sentenced Kenneth to death and fined him five million rupees after he plead guilty.
On June 30, 2014, the Lahore High Court upheld Kenneth’s sentence.
On June 25, 2025, Kenneth was acquitted.
Publicly Available Information:
- "Christian Acquitted after 23 Years on Death Row for ‘Blasphemy’" Morning Star News
- "Pakistan court frees Christian convicted of blasphemy 23 years ago" UCA News
- USCIRF Commissioners David Curry and Susie Gelman, Tweet, April 17, 2024
- “Supreme Court to hear case of Christian jailed for 21 years for blasphemy” AsiaNews
- “Blasphemy death row convict await trial” Express Tribune
- “World Briefing | Asia: Pakistan: Death Sentence For Blasphemy” New York Times (NYT)
- “Pakistani Christian sentenced to death” British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)