Pakistan Supreme Court Upholds Christian Man's Death Sentence for Blasphemy

Pakistan's Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and death sentence of a Christian man accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and international organizations.

The ruling concerning Amoon and Qaisar Ayub, brothers accused of blasphemy, began in 2014 when Qaisar was arrested following the display of their contact information and content deemed insulting to the Prophet on a WordPress site. Amoon was arrested the following year. According to CeCe Heil, Senior Counsel and International Legal Director for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the Pakistani legal system has not presented evidence proving the brothers' affiliation with the offending website during the subsequent 12 years of legal proceedings.

The ACLJ, through its Pakistani partner the Organization for Legal Aid (OLA), began representing Amoon in 2015. Both brothers were sentenced to death in 2018, and their appeal to the Lahore High Court in 2022 was unsuccessful. Qaisar later requested OLA's representation at the Supreme Court in 2025.

Following numerous postponements and legal arguments, an October 7 verdict from the Supreme Court resulted in Amoon's acquittal after nearly a decade in prison. However, Qaisar's conviction and death sentence were upheld.

Heil described a threatening atmosphere surrounding many blasphemy hearings, citing the common presence of "mobs" in courtrooms. She noted instances where individuals have threatened judges if they did not impose death sentences and celebrated legal journeys culminating in convictions, with messages like "There is only one punishment for one who insults the Prophet: The death penalty for Qaisar Ayub."

The ACLJ warns that the Supreme Court's decision could set a precedent affecting numerous individuals currently imprisoned on blasphemy charges, including at least three OLA clients. Among them is Shahzad Masih, accused of blasphemy in 2017 at the age of 16 and sentenced to death five years later, with subsequent appeals repeatedly postponed. Ahsan Masih was sentenced to death in 2023 for alleged blasphemous content posted on TikTok, and his appeal hearings have also faced delays.

The OLA intends to file a review petition with the Supreme Court regarding the lack of evidence against Qaisar and plans to seek direct support from the Government of Pakistan, including a presidential pardon.

Heil expressed concern that Pakistan, which positions itself as a mediator in international conflicts, fails to protect the religious freedoms of its own citizens. The Pakistani Embassy in Washington D.C. did not respond to inquiries regarding the possibility of a presidential pardon or the implications of the ruling.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated that the U.S. is "concerned about religious freedom in Pakistan and throughout the world" and regularly discusses these concerns with Pakistani officials.

The ACLJ has requested that the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, intervene on Qaisar's behalf. In September 2025, Tidball-Binz and other UN officials had previously communicated concerns to the Government of Pakistan regarding the cases of the Ayub brothers and Shahzad Masih, emphasizing their apprehension about the mandatory death penalty for blasphemy charges despite an alleged lack of conclusive evidence. They also noted that these charges did not qualify as 'most serious crimes' and raised concerns about potential violations of rights to life, freedom from torture, arbitrary liberty, fair trials, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, expression, and equality before the law.

In its response earlier this year, the Government of Pakistan stated that such matters fall within the judicial domain and that the executive branch is constitutionally prohibited from intervening in individual cases.

While Amoon has been spared the death penalty, the ACLJ stated its work continues to ensure his safety.

Pakistan is listed among the top ten countries with the most extreme persecution of Christians, according to the Open Doors 2026 World Watch List.