Pakistan: Christian man sentenced to death over 'blasphemous' WhatsApp message

“My client will appeal the sentence in the high court as he has been framed by his friend, who was annoyed over Mr James’ affair with a Muslim girl.”

Times of Ahmad | News Watch | UK Desk
Source/Credit: The Independent
By Ian Johnston | September 16, 2017

‘My client ... has been framed by his friend, who was annoyed over James’ affair with a Muslim girl,’ says defence lawyer

A Christian man has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for insulting the Prophet Muhammad, his lawyer has said.

Nadeem James, 35, was said to have committed blasphemy in a poem he sent to a Muslim friend on the WhatsApp messaging service.

He was arrested in July last year after going on the run following the accusation of blasphemy, which human rights groups say is sometimes used in the country to settle personal scores and target minorities.

Defence lawyer Anjum Wakeel told the AFP news agency that in this case there had been a dispute between his client and the friend over a woman.

“Mr James was handed a death sentence by the court on Thursday on blasphemy charges,” he said.

“My client will appeal the sentence in the high court as he has been framed by his friend, who was annoyed over Mr James’ affair with a Muslim girl.”

The verdict was passed by a court in the town of Gujrat in eastern Pakistan.

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