(International Christian Concern) The High Court appeal for a Christian couple in Pakistan, sentenced to death under the country’s notorious blasphemy laws, was delayed last week due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to local sources, the appeal will be rescheduled, but no new date has been given.
On Wednesday, April 8, Shafqat Emmanuel and his wife Shagufta Kausar were scheduled to have the verdict of their High Court appeal read out by the Lahore High Court. In 2014, both Shafqat and Shagufta were sentenced to death under Pakistan blasphemy laws after they were accused of sending text messages deemed blasphemous.
On Wednesday, April 8, Shafqat Emmanuel and his wife Shagufta Kausar were scheduled to have the verdict of their High Court appeal read out by the Lahore High Court. In 2014, both Shafqat and Shagufta were sentenced to death under Pakistan blasphemy laws after they were accused of sending text messages deemed blasphemous.
On July 21, 2013, Shagufta and Shafqat were both arrested and charged with blasphemy under Sections 295-B and 295-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code. To extract a false confession, Shafqat claims Gojra City Police tortured him in front of his wife and children. According to Shafqat, he gave this false confession because the police threatened to torture his wife if he refused.