Christian couple appeal death sentence for sending blasphemous texts

A disabled Christian man and his wife who are sentenced to death for allegedly sending blasphemous text messages to an Islamic cleric, have filed an appeal at the Lahore High Court.

Shafqat Masih, who is paralyzed from his waist down, said in his petition that there were serious contradictions in the witnesses' accounts against him and his wife. He also stated that he had developed bed sores and feared he would die in jail.

In April 2014, the couple who are now in their 40's, were convicted and sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy. Masih and his wife, Shagufta have four young children.

Farukh Saif, an official of World Vision in Progress, said there was no evidence the text messages came from a phone owned by the Christian couple. They had lost the phone some months before July 2013. Furthermore, there was no SIM card in their names. The only evidence police produced was a bill for a SIM card from a shop owner which is unheard of, Saif added.

International Christian Concern and many human rights advocates claimed that Pakistan's blasphemy laws were made to persecute religious minorities in the country, especially Christians. ICC said that while the legislation meant to protect Islamic sensitivities, it is often used to settle scores "for personal gain and to oppress minorities".

In 2010, a Christian mother of five, Asia Bibi was sentenced to death under the country's blasphemy laws. Asia's case has gained much attention in the past few years in which she is accused of "blaspheming against Islam" by Muslim women who were reportedly angry at her for drinking from the same water bowl.

In August, the court decided to allow the family to visit her without restrictions. Ashiq Masih, Asia's husband met and prayed with Pope Francis at the Vatican last April.