Pakistan blasphemy case Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court of Pakistan issued split rulings regarding two Christian brothers, Qaiser and Amoon Ayub, who were sentenced to death in 2018 for blasphemy.

The court upheld the death sentence for Qaiser Ayub, 49, citing digital evidence including registration data, email addresses, and files on his computer that linked him to blasphemous material published on a website. Qaiser has maintained that he closed the website in 2009 and that others later revived it using his name, but the court rejected this defense.

In contrast, the court acquitted Amoon Ayub, 46. While evidence such as a phone connection and an office lease were in his name, the bench ruled that the prosecution failed to prove his personal involvement or knowledge of the material.

Human rights advocates and the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) have expressed deep concern, arguing that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are frequently misused to target religious minorities. Qaiser’s representatives have announced plans to petition the Supreme Court to reconsider the decision regarding his conviction.