Christian man acquitted of blasphemy charges after 24 years on death row
The Supreme Court has ended Anwar Kenneth’s ordeal. Sentenced in 2002, the 72-year-old has suffered from obvious mental issues. In early 2025, lawyer Rana Abdul Hameed filed an appeal, with the support of Jubilee Campaign. The NGO’s advocacy director urges Pakistan to undertake immediate “comprehensive legislative reform”. The case had also been raised in the European Parliament as part of the ongoing human rights dispute between the EU and Pakistan.
Islamabad (AsiaNews) – Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted Anwar Kenneth, a 72-year-old Christian man, who spent 24 years on death row following to a controversial blasphemy conviction.
A former government employee with obvious mental issues, Kenneth was arrested in 2001 after allegedly writing seemingly blasphemous letters about Muhammad and the Qur‘an.
A three-judge panel ruled that in light of the defendant’s mental state, he could not be held criminally responsible for blasphemy-related offences.
In 2002, Anwar Kenneth was sentenced to death under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code and fined five million rupees.
Despite clear signs of being mentally disturbed and a forced guilty plea, the Lahore High Court upheld the sentence in 2014.
His latest appeal was filed earlier this year by Supreme Court lawyer Rana Abdul Hameed, with legal support provided by Jubilee Campaign Netherlands and Jubilee Campaign USA, organisations that promote human rights and religious freedom for ethnic and religious minorities around the world.
“Justice has finally been served for Anwar Kenneth, a poor Christian man who has endured nearly a lifetime of unimaginable suffering behind bars,” said Joseph Janssen, minority rights activist and advocacy director for Jubilee Campaign Netherlands.
“This long-overdue acquittal is not only a relief for Kenneth but also a beacon of hope for all those unjustly imprisoned due to their faith,” added Janssen, who has worked on numerous false blasphemy cases against Christians.
Lawyer Rana Abdul Hameed described the ruling that exonerated Anwar Kenneth as a stern indictment of Pakistan’s blasphemy legislation.
“This case exposes the systemic abuse enabled by vague and overly broad legislation,” he explained.
Indeed, for decades these laws have been used to persecute religious minorities, silence dissent, and settle personal scores.
“That it took 24 years to correct such a gross miscarriage of justice reflects deeply rooted flaws in Pakistan’s legal framework,” Hameed lamented.
Jubilee Campaign praised Hameed’s dedication and his legal advocacy, which was instrumental in securing Kenneth’s acquittal.
It also recognised the ongoing efforts of its advocacy teams, whose work brought Kenneth’s case to international attention and galvanised global support.
“Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are incompatible with international human rights standards,” Janssen explained. “They violate due process, lack legal safeguards, and are routinely weaponized against minorities and individuals with mental illness. Without comprehensive legislative reform, cases like Anwar Kenneth’s will continue.”
Jubilee Campaign is calling on Pakistani authorities to conduct a full and transparent review of the blasphemy laws, in line with their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“We call on the international community to stand with those still suffering unjustly under these laws and to continue pressing for meaningful reform,” Janssen said.
Kenneth’s acquittal follows years of sustained international campaigning, including repeated interventions by UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion or belief, minorities and extrajudicial executions.
In formal submissions, UN experts condemned Pakistan’s blasphemy laws as violating international legal standards, including the right to a fair trial and protection from arbitrary detention. They urged Pakistan to repeal or amend Section 295 of the Penal Code to prevent further abuse.
Charlie Weimers, a member of the European Parliament, also raised Kenneth’s case at a UN Human Rights Council event in March. He described Pakistan’s blasphemy laws as “weapons of terror against religious minorities” and slammed Kenneth’s continued detention despite clear mental health issues.
He called on European countries to pay attention to the issue, and respond with principled and coordinated action.
The European Union has consistently urged Pakistan to align its domestic laws with international human rights standards, particularly in view of its status under the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+).
EU officials have warned that continued abuse of blasphemy laws could jeopardise the South Asian country’s trade privileges and global standing.
Anwar Kenneth’s case is now seen as a crucial test in the ongoing human rights standoff between the EU and Pakistan.
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10/02/2022 13:19
