A rchive Date
[ 19-07-2002 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Pakistan ]
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[http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWS/execution_july18-ap.html
Court in Pakistan sentences Christian to death for committing blasphemy
Friday, Jul. 19, 2002
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - A Pakistani Christian who claimed he was Jesus Christ and called Islam a fake religion was convicted of blasphemy on Thursday and sentenced to death by hanging, court officials said.
The verdict against Anwar Keneth, 40, a former government official, drew criticism from the nation's Christian Liberation Front, which lobbies for the interests of the small Christian community.
"We think justice has not been done in the case of Anwar Keneth," Khalid Gill, a leader and spokesman for the group, told The Associated Press. "Keneth should have been treated at a mental hospital."
Keneth was arrested a year ago in the eastern city of Lahore for violating Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws after he addressed a letter to a local imam and others stating that Islam was a fake religion. He also claimed in the letter to be Christ.
Keneth, who was born a Christian, has been jailed since his arrest. He confessed to the charges on July 8, according to court documents.
Minorities in Pakistan have been demanding the repeal of blasphemy laws, under which scores of people are arrested every year.
About 97 percent of Pakistan's 145 million people are Muslim. Christians constitute a small portion of the remaining 3 percent, along with Hindus and Sikhs.
Under Pakistani law, only the word of a Muslim accuser is needed to prosecute a non-Muslim on blasphemy charges, which can carry the death penalty upon conviction
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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