Death sentence in Pakistan for Briton who claimed to be a prophet
A court in Pakistan has sentenced a British man to death for blasphemy for claiming to be a prophet of Islam. Mohammad Asghar, a British national of Pakistani origin, was arrested in 2010 in the garrison city of Rawalpindi for writing letters claiming to be a prophet.
A court in Pakistan has sentenced a British man to death for blasphemy for claiming to be a prophet of Islam.
Mohammad Asghar, a British national of Pakistani origin, was arrested in 2010 in the garrison city of Rawalpindi for writing letters claiming to be a prophet.
The special court inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, where Asghar is being held, rejected defence claims that the 65-year-old has mental health problems.
"Asghar claimed to be a prophet even inside the court. He confessed it in front of the judge," prosecutor Javed Gul said. "Asghar used to write it even on his visiting card."
Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97 per cent of the population is Muslim, and insulting the Prophet Mohammed can carry the death penalty.
Asghar claimed to be a prophet in court. He confessed it in front of the judge
But the country has had a de facto moratorium on civilian hangings since 2008. Only one person has been executed since then, a soldier convicted by court martial.