ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (LifeSiteNews) — After spending 23 years on death row for alleged blasphemy, a Christian man in Pakistan has been acquitted by the country’s Supreme Court.
Anwar Kenneth, a 72-year-old Catholic, was acquitted by the Pakistani Supreme Court in Islamabad on June 25. The court ruled that Kenneth is mentally unfit and therefore not criminally liable under the blasphemy law.
Supreme Court attorney Rana Abdul Hameed expressed relief at the verdict, noting that Kenneth had suffered unjustly due to his mental condition.
“It is very unfortunate that an elderly man has languished in various prisons for over two decades despite his mental health condition,” Hameed told the Christian Daily International.
Kenneth was arrested in 2001 for allegedly writing letters which contained “blasphemy” against Mohammed and the Quran. The letters were mailed to Muslim religious scholars, Muslim heads of state, foreign diplomats in Pakistan, the United Nations secretary-general, and Christian theologians. Under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law, the crime for “insulting the Prophet Muhammad” is a capital offense.
The letters, as Hameed expresses, simply “stated the Christian belief regarding Islam” and did not contain offensive language directed towards any religious figures in Islam.
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Christian leaders are applauding the verdict by the court and hoping that the case will set a precedent for future Christians in Pakistani courts. Dominican Father James Channan, director of the Peace Center in Lahore, was one of those leaders that welcomed the verdict.
“Thanks to the judges of the Supreme Court for doing justice. Justice is delayed but justice is done. However, I lament that Anwar Kenneth has lost very precious 23 years of his life. Now, those who falsely accused him of blasphemy must be put behind bars – at least for 23 years,” Fr. Channan told Crux.
According to an annual Human Rights Observer report issued by Center for Social Justice, a total of 344 people were accused of blasphemy in 2024. This number increased from the previous year’s total of 329.
Extrajudicial killing of accused blasphemers is also a growing trend, as a total of 10 occurred in 2024. One such victim was Nazir Masih, a Christian man who was lynched by a mob in Sargodha after being accused of blasphemy.
Fr. Channan also expressed hope that Kenneth’s acquittal will prompt a broader review of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
“Our authorities and lawmakers must look into the grave misuse of blasphemy laws. And ensure that they are not misused and not used to settle personal scores,” he said.
