Pakistani Christian Acquitted After 23 Years on Death Row for Blasphemy

In a landmark ruling that has sent shockwaves through Pakistan's legal system, the Supreme Court on June 25, 2025, acquitted a 72-year-old Catholic man who had spent 23 years on death row for alleged blasphemy, citing his mental health condition as grounds for his innocence.

The Verdict

The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Shahzad Ahmed Khan, and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, ruled that Anwar Kenneth could not be held criminally liable for blasphemy due to his unsound mental state. The court declared that a person of unsound mind cannot be held responsible for such crimes under Pakistani law.

"It is very unfortunate that an elderly man has languished in various prisons for over two decades despite his mental health condition," said Supreme Court attorney Rana Abdul Hameed, a Muslim lawyer who represented Kenneth. "The Supreme Court's decision to acquit him in view of his mental illness, though after a prolonged delay, will help in highlighting the plight of dozens of other blasphemy prisoners who are also suffering from mental health challenges."

The Case Background

Kenneth, a former deputy director in the Punjab Fisheries Department, was arrested in 2001 for allegedly writing letters that contained blasphemous content against the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. The letters were sent to various recipients, including Muslim religious scholars, Muslim heads of state, foreign diplomats in Pakistan, the United Nations secretary-general, and Christian theologians.

In these letters, Kenneth stated that non-Muslims rejected Muhammad's prophethood—a position that reflects basic Christian theological beliefs. However, under Pakistan's controversial Section 295-C of the blasphemy statutes, which mandates the death penalty for insulting Islam's prophet, Kenneth was sentenced to death by a trial court in Lahore in July 2002.

Family's Perspective

Kenneth's 83-year-old sister, Reshma Bibi, had described her brother as "a Bible scholar who often engaged in scholastic discussions with his Muslim friends and religious leaders." She emphasized that "he also communicated his religious ideas and values through his letter-writing, but he was never disrespectful towards any holy personality."

The family maintained that Kenneth was a well-educated man with a deep interest in his Christian faith, and that his letters were simply expressing Christian theological positions rather than intended insults.

Courtroom Drama

The acquittal was not without controversy. According to Hameed, "lawyers and clerics caused a ruckus in the courtroom as soon as the judges announced the acquittal order." The decision was met with anger from Islamist activists who viewed Kenneth's acquittal as a significant setback to blasphemy prosecutions.

"Kenneth's acquittal is a big setback to them, as it will have an impact on all blasphemy cases of similar nature," Hameed noted, suggesting that the precedent could influence future cases involving defendants with mental health issues.

Legal Representation and Advocacy

Hameed, who has successfully defended several individuals falsely charged with blasphemy, agreed to represent Kenneth with support from the advocacy group Jubilee Campaign Netherlands. The lawyer has been vocal about the need for reform in how Pakistan's blasphemy laws are applied, particularly regarding defendants with mental health conditions.

Pakistan's Blasphemy Crisis

The case highlights the broader crisis surrounding Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which have been widely criticized as weapons of persecution against religious minorities. According to recent reports, at least 2,793 people have been formally or informally accused of blasphemy in Pakistan over the past 38 years (1987-2024).

More alarmingly, at least 104 people have been killed extra-judicially following blasphemy allegations between 1994 and 2024, with mobs often taking matters into their own hands rather than waiting for court proceedings.

Rising Persecution

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in blasphemy cases in recent years, with 344 new cases recorded in 2024 alone—the highest number on record. The country, whose population is more than 96 percent Muslim, ranks eighth on Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian.

Christians constitute about 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 241 million people and face increasing persecution and false accusations. The blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores or target religious minorities.

Mental Health Concerns

The Supreme Court's decision brings attention to the plight of blasphemy defendants suffering from mental health issues. "The Supreme Court's decision to acquit him in view of his mental illness, though after a prolonged delay, will help in highlighting the plight of dozens of other blasphemy prisoners who are also suffering from mental health challenges yet their cases have been pending for years," Hameed explained.

Religious Leaders' Response

Dominican Father James Channan, director of the Peace Center in Lahore, applauded the decision: "It is really very sad and shocking that how blasphemy laws are misused, even for those persons who have unsound mind. Thanks to the judges of the Supreme Court for doing justice. Justice is delayed but justice is done."

However, Father Channan also lamented that "Anwar Kenneth has lost very precious 23 years of his life."

Broader Impact

Thomas Mueller, an Open Doors analyst, commented on the significance of the case: "Pakistan's blasphemy laws have for years been weapons of persecution. At present, we're witnessing a surge in mob violence in which mere rumour incites deadly attacks. A staggering 344 new blasphemy cases were recorded in 2024 alone—a revealing high, suggesting these laws are being weaponised."

Release and Future

The court's detailed order was expected to be issued within two to three days of the verdict, paving the way for Kenneth's release from prison. The decision is seen as potentially watershed moment that could lead to more acquittals and help curb the misuse of blasphemy laws.

At present, there are believed to be approximately 23 Pakistani Christians (including four minors) in prison accused of blasphemy, with seven having been sentenced to death.

International Context

The case comes amid growing international concern about Pakistan's treatment of religious minorities. While no one has been executed by the state for blasphemy, the mere accusation often leads to vigilante violence and social ostracism.

Kenneth's acquittal represents a rare victory for religious freedom advocates in Pakistan, though it comes at the cost of nearly a quarter-century of an elderly man's life spent in prison for expressing his religious beliefs.