He is being sentenced to death.
In Pakistan, a young Christian named Ahsan Boota Masih, aged 27, has been sentenced to death for allegedly posting a blasphemous video on TikTok. His arrest followed claims that his account shared an image of a controversial letter linked to the 2023 Jaranwala riots. The First Information Report (FIR) from August 2023 details that security personnel discovered the letter on TikTok, leading them to Masih. The FIR accused Masih of offending local religious sentiments, which resulted in a blasphemy charge. On June 29, an anti-terrorism court found Masih guilty and sentenced him to death under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which mandates the death penalty or life imprisonment for offenses against the Prophet Muhammad’s name. Additionally, Masih received a 10-year prison term and a fine of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (approximately $1,795 USD).
The riots in Jaranwala, during which over 25 churches were destroyed and Christian homes were vandalized, coincided with the emergence of the controversial video, leading to Masih’s arrest under Pakistan’s strict anti-blasphemy laws. Masih’s family denies the accusations and is pursuing justice through higher courts, alleging that the trial was marred by religious bias and lacked a thorough investigation.
Yousaf Masih, Ahsan’s brother, criticized the court’s decision, stating that it undermines principles of fair justice and constitutional protections for religious minorities. He suggested that the case was driven by local police bias, who were allegedly watching TikTok videos at the time of the investigation. Yousaf described Ahsan as a diligent worker, balancing jobs as a brick kiln laborer and motorcycle mechanic.
Yousaf also suggested that the conflict began with a financial dispute over a motorcycle purchase. He claimed that a friend of Ahsan, who defaulted on payments, may have plotted against him. Yousaf maintains that the blasphemous content was not posted by Ahsan but was instead the result of his phone being used by others to frame him.
Khurram Awan, Masih’s lawyer, has expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, asserting that the prosecution failed to provide evidence linking Masih to the blasphemous material. A forensic report from the Punjab Forensic Laboratory did not find any incriminating material on Masih’s phone, and the forensic department admitted limitations in retrieving deleted files. Awan has appealed the case to the Lahore High Court, expressing hope that a re-examination will overturn the death sentence due to the lack of concrete evidence against Masih.
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