A Pakistani court has sentenced four men to death for posting blasphemous content online, according to a prosecution lawyer.
The verdict was delivered on Friday in Rawalpindi, a garrison city near the capital Islamabad, said Rao Abdur Raheem, a lawyer representing the Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan, a private group that pursued the case.
“They were sentenced to death… for spreading blasphemous content online,” Raheem told AFP, adding that the prosecution relied on forensic evidence obtained from the devices used by the accused.
The court’s decision is the latest in a growing trend of online blasphemy prosecutions in Pakistan, where such cases have sharply increased. Many are initiated by private vigilante groups who bring charges against individuals accused of blaspheming Islam on social media or other digital platforms.
A member of a support group for the families of the convicted men confirmed the sentences to AFP, stating that the group plans to challenge the verdict.
“The pattern of arrests and prosecutions in this case is consistent with previous ones,” said the support group member, who chose to remain anonymous due to security concerns.
The individual called on the government to intervene and establish a commission to investigate the rising number of blasphemy cases, which they argue are consuming the lives of young individuals accused of these crimes.
“We urge the government to establish a commission to investigate the rise in these cases before these young individuals spend the best years of their lives behind bars,” the support group member added.
Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where it carries a potential death sentence under the country’s strict laws. Accusations often spark intense public and media attention, with even unverified claims sometimes leading to mob violence.
Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the misuse of blasphemy laws, which they say are often exploited to target individuals or settle personal disputes. International human rights organizations have urged Pakistan to reform its blasphemy laws and provide greater protections for those accused.
The four convicted men plan to appeal their sentences in higher courts. In the meantime, the case has reignited debates over the use of digital platforms and the risks of vigilantism in blasphemy allegations.
