In a heart-wrenching moment for the Christian community, Shagufta Kiran, a mother of four, was sentenced to death on Wednesday, September 18, under Pakistan’s highly controversial blasphemy laws. Her attorney, Rana Abdul Hameed, shared the emotional toll the verdict has taken on the 40-year-old woman, who has endured an agonizing three-year trial. Kiran was convicted under Section 295-C for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad, a charge that carries a mandatory death sentence. Along with the death penalty, she was ordered to pay a fine of 300,000 rupees ($1,077).
Kiran’s nightmare began when she was arrested by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency on July 29, 2021, after being accused of sharing blasphemous content in a WhatsApp group. While her husband and two sons were also taken into custody during the raid, they were later released. The complaint against her was filed by a Muslim man, Shiraz Ahmed Farooqi, who alleged that Kiran had forwarded disrespectful content related to Islam’s prophet. Yet, Kiran has maintained her innocence, asserting that she forwarded the message without reading it, as she was an active participant in several interfaith WhatsApp groups, proclaiming the gospel and defending her Christian beliefs.
Despite her conviction, Kiran remains a symbol of resilience. Her attorney described her as a brave woman who stood firm throughout the grueling trial, and who, even after the verdict, held onto hope. “She misses her family deeply and longs for the day she can be reunited,” Hameed shared. He expressed optimism, believing Kiran’s faith and courage will carry her through the coming legal battles as they appeal the decision in the superior courts.
Shagufta Kiran’s story is a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by minorities in Pakistan under blasphemy laws, which continue to draw international condemnation. Her plea for justice reverberates beyond her own experience, touching the hearts of those who believe in the right to faith and freedom.
In the face of Shagufta Kiran’s devastating death sentence, her attorney, Rana Abdul Hameed, has vowed to file an appeal as soon as the court issues its detailed order. While the verdict was deeply disheartening, it did not come as a surprise. According to Hameed, the harsh reality is that nearly 99 percent of those charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, specifically Section 295-C, are convicted by trial courts, often under intense pressure from extremist groups.
“If you examine all cases of 295-C, the trial courts tend to convict the accused even when the evidence against them is weak,” Hameed explained. “This is due to the immense pressure from religious factions and the fear of mob violence. However, many of these convictions are overturned by the superior courts.”
Kiran’s case is far from isolated. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have been wielded as a tool of oppression against minorities and dissenters for decades. According to the Center for Social Justice (CSJ), nearly 3,000 people have been accused of blasphemy since 1987, but the actual number of cases is likely much higher. Last year alone, hundreds were imprisoned under these charges, with 552 held in Punjab Province’s prisons. As of June this year, 350 individuals remain incarcerated on blasphemy accusations, with 103 new cases reported in the first six months of 2024.
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of these statistics is the violence that accompanies them. Since January, at least seven individuals accused of blasphemy have been murdered by mobs or vigilantes. Between 1994 and 2023, 94 people accused of blasphemy lost their lives to mob justice. These numbers tell a grim story of fear and intolerance that haunts anyone accused of these laws.
As Shagufta Kiran awaits her fate, her case symbolizes the deep-rooted injustices plaguing Pakistan’s legal system. For her and countless others like her, justice is not just a legal fight but a battle for basic human dignity.