Another person has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy, renewing the debate over the country’s laws. Twenty-nine-year old Abdul Sattar was sentenced to death on 21 June.
The blasphemy issue gained international and national media attention last November when Asia Bibi became the first woman in Pakistan sentenced to death for blasphemy. The verdict attracted condemnation from human rights campaigners and from Pakistan’s Christian minority.
Then, earlier this year, Governor of Pakistan’s province Punjab Salmaan Taseer and Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti were assassinated, in separate incidents. They both supported Asia Bibi and made efforts to secure her release. [Index on Censorship] Read more
