Pakistan: ECLJ Raises Alarm at the UN Over the Death Penalty for Blasphemy Against Islam

Around forty people are currently on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy against Islam, while more than one hundred others have been killed by mobs before even standing trial. On 23 May 2026, the ECLJ formally alerted the United Nations Human Rights Council to these death sentences, documenting cases in which investigations were poorly conducted and procedural safeguards disregarded.

Section 295-C of the Pakistani Penal Code provides for the death penalty by hanging for anyone who “defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad”. The notion of defilement is interpreted very broadly, as it may result from acts committed “by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo or insinuation, directly or indirectly”.

The number of blasphemy prosecutions in Pakistan has risen sharply in recent years. According to a report published by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in April 2025, a record 344 new blasphemy cases were registered in 2024. Although Pakistan has never carried out the execution of a person convicted of blasphemy, death sentences imposed for this offence are typically commuted to life imprisonment. Nevertheless, these convictions continue to send dozens of individuals to death row. Approximately forty people are currently awaiting execution.

Moreover, accusations of blasphemy are frequently accompanied by extrajudicial violence targeting both the accused and their families. At least 104 people were publicly lynched following blasphemy allegations between 1994 and 2024, including 26 Christians. While innocent Christians are convicted on the basis of false accusations, those responsible for these acts of so-called “popular justice” continue to enjoy impunity.

Flawed Trials and Convictions Handed Down Under Pressure

It is not uncommon for blasphemy allegations to be based on false accusations, with defendants convicted despite insufficient evidence, as investigations are poorly conducted and procedural guarantees ignored. Defendants often find their fate decided in an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, with fundamentalist Islamist organizations filling courtrooms to exert pressure on judges.

Fear paralyses the entire criminal justice system. Lawyers, police officers, prosecutors and judges are prevented from carrying out their duties effectively and impartially. Acquittals remain exceedingly rare, leaving defendants dependent upon higher courts, which are themselves overwhelmed and frequently postpone hearings indefinitely. The State not only fails to protect the accused but also provides no compensation for the years of unjust detention they endure.

These cases reveal a reality that the ECLJ regularly documents: the use of blasphemy legislation as a weapon against religious minorities, particularly Christians. Christians account for less than 2% of Pakistan's population but represent 6% of those prosecuted for blasphemy. On 27 February 2026, the ECLJ had already submitted a contribution on this issue to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

The ECLJ Defends Four Christians Unjustly Held on Death Row

The ECLJ's partner organization in Pakistan currently represents five individuals prosecuted under Section 295-C. Four of them are currently detained awaiting execution.

Shahzad Masih was sixteen years old when he was charged in July 2017. During a conversation, he merely repeated remarks made by a friend of his father that were considered disrespectful towards the name “Muhammad”. This alone was enough for him to be reported to the authorities. During the trial, even the police commissioner testified that Shahzad's remarks were not insulting towards Islam. Nevertheless, the court sentenced him to death in November 2022 after refusing to try him as a minor. Shahzad has spent more than eight years in prison. “They should simply hang me. I can no longer bear the agony of waiting every day to see what will happen,” he told his lawyers.

Qaisar and Amoon Ayub, two Christian brothers, were arrested in 2014 after their names and address appeared on an online blog containing content deemed blasphemous. The police never attempted to verify whether they were actually responsible for the blog. The Federal Investigation Agency did submit a request to WordPress seeking the identity of the site's creator, but never received a response. Nevertheless, the two brothers were sentenced to death in 2018, a sentence upheld on appeal in 2022. They have spent more than ten years in prison. Today, Amoon’s wife undertakes a five-hour round-trip bus journey each week for a brief visit with her husband, who suffers from depression.

Ahsan Masih, aged twenty-six, was arrested in August 2023 for allegedly reposting a blasphemous image on TikTok, an image that had already been shared by thousands of internet users. The image was never found on his phone, and no evidence was produced against him. Nonetheless, he was sentenced to death. His entire family now lives in fear of a mob attack should Ahsan ever be released.

Intizar Masih, represented by our partner organization in Pakistan, was arrested in March 2023 for comments allegedly made in a private WhatsApp group. Twenty individuals are being prosecuted in the same case, which forms part of a broader wave of more than two hundred similar proceedings targeting participants in online discussion groups. His wife, who has no professional qualifications, survives on charitable donations. Their children are growing up without their father. If convicted, Intizar faces the death penalty.

The ECLJ Calls for Urgent International Action

On 16 May 2026, the annual Justice A. R. Cornelius Conference was held under the theme “Religious Freedom in the Constitution of Pakistan”. The Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court, Aminuddin Khan, pledged to protect the constitutional rights of every Pakistani without discrimination, affirming the judiciary's commitment to equality and justice for all.

Overall, however, the conference remained largely evasive on the most sensitive issues. Without directly addressing the persecution faced by religious minorities or the abuses associated with blasphemy accusations, speakers largely confined themselves to institutional statements emphasizing the importance of religious freedom and equality before the law.

Given the gravity of the situation, the ECLJ calls on Member States of the Human Rights Council to urge Pakistan to:

• Abolish the death penalty provided for under its blasphemy laws;
• Conduct impartial and thorough investigations in all blasphemy cases;
• Expedite trials and appeals in order to end years of unjust imprisonment;
• Acquit and release individuals detained on the basis of unfounded blasphemy accusations.

These recommendations are set out in a written statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council on 23 May 2026.