Christian Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Pakistan Under Blasphemy Laws: A Case of Alleged Social Media Post

February 20, 2024

Fanson Shahid, a Christian man, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy on social media, sparking immediate attention. The decision to give a life sentence to a Christian individual for alleged blasphemy on social media has stirred widespread shock and concern. This verdict presents a new opportunity to revisit the story of defiance against Pakistan's blasphemy laws through the harrowing tale of Christian man, Fanson Shahid.

A Christian man in Pakistan has been sentenced to life imprisonment under the country's blasphemy laws for allegedly posting a derogatory message about the prophet of Islam on social media. The man, Fanson Shahid, 56, was reportedly beaten and tortured into confessing after being accused of making the comment on a post shared by another Christian. His wife claims that the phone used to make the comment was stolen from him in 2019.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Zafar Yab Chadhar of the Additional Sessions Court in Gujranwala District, Punjab Province, on January 24, 2024, but the family did not disclose it until now. Evidence presented by investigators included Fanson Shahid's Facebook account being logged in on a new phone recovered in 2022, which was used to support the accusation against him. However, his wife asserts that the lost phone was likely misused by someone else to make the blasphemous comment.

Fanson Shahid was found guilty under various sections of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, including Section 295-C, which carries a mandatory death sentence for derogatory remarks about Muhammad. However, the judge cited the fact that the comment was posted only once as a "mitigating circumstance" and sentenced him to life imprisonment instead. In addition to the blasphemy charges, Shahid was also convicted under other sections related to causing communal unrest and promoting religious hatred on social media, resulting in additional prison terms and fines.

The verdict has shocked Fanson Shahid's family and the members of the Full Gospel Assemblies church to which he belongs. He has two children, and due to security concerns, the family has been forced to relocate from their home. Fanson Shahid's family is currently seeking support to file an appeal in the Lahore High Court before the deadline. Fanson Shahid, who worked as a purchase officer at Pakistan Railways in Lahore, was due to retire in eight years when he was arrested on blasphemy charges in 2022.

Case background:
The arrest and subsequent torture of a Christian man in Pakistan, Fanson Shahid, accused of making blasphemous comments on social media. Cybercrime officials raided Shahid's home, arrested him, and confiscated his belongings, including his phone. Shahid's wife argued that the phone, lost in 2019, might have been misused to post the comment. Shahid, a respected individual with good relations, faced health issues and concerns about his family's future due to the false accusation. The charges against Shahid under Pakistan's blasphemy laws were grave, leading to concerns about justice and the safety of the accused and his family. The case sheds light on the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan and the plight of religious minorities, particularly Christians, in the country.