Pakistan Supreme Court upholds death sentence for Christian man

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has upheld the death sentence for Qaiser Ayub, a Christian father of three accused of publishing blasphemous material online. While the court upheld the conviction for Qaiser, it acquitted his brother, Amoon Ayub, citing insufficient evidence.

The case dates back to 2011, when allegations surfaced regarding blasphemous content on a website linked to the brothers. Qaiser has maintained his innocence, claiming the website had been closed years prior and was later compromised by others. The brothers initially fled to Singapore and Thailand due to threats but were eventually arrested in Pakistan in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Human rights advocates and the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) have expressed deep concern over the ruling. They argue that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are frequently misused to settle personal disputes and target religious minorities. CLAAS stated they will explore all remaining legal avenues to prevent Qaiser’s execution.