ISLAMABAD: A woman in Pakistan has been sentenced to death for blasphemy on social media, along with a hefty fine of Rs300,000 and seven years imprisonment.
Additionally, she’s been fined another Rs100,000 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). This verdict was handed down by a special court in Islamabad, established just this July to handle cases under PECA.
The woman has 30 days to appeal the decision, a crucial window for her legal team to review and challenge the ruling.
It’s worth noting that Pakistan has a history of blasphemy cases, with varying sentences – in some cases, life imprisonment has been the outcome.
In another instance, a Muslim woman was sentenced to death and fined 50,000 rupees by a Lahore court.
This verdict comes after the federal government established special courts in July, following consultations with Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, to handle cases under PECA.
This is not the first time someone has been sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan. In 2021, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad sentenced three men to death for similar offenses on social media.
