The High Court of Lahore in Pakistan upheld the death sentences of two Christian brothers charged with blasphemy, said a report by rights group International Christian Concern (ICC).
In prison since 2011, the brothers were first arrested for allegedly publishing blasphemous materials on the internet. The brothers were convicted in December 2018.
The high court issued its final judgment upholding the death sentences early this month.
“The Christians’ convictions come despite the fact that no evidence exists that they are responsible for the website,” read the ICC report.
It said that a Muslim man came across a blog hosting blasphemous materials and reported the website to the police. One of the brother’s name, phone number, email address, and home address were found on the website, resulting in the arrest.
Pakistan’s Computer Crimes Department said no information could be found about the author of the blog, but one of the brothers testified that some of his Muslim friends authored the website.
According to the brother, just before the blog was published, the Christians had gotten into an argument with their Muslim friends.
“These friends may very well have created the website with the Christians’ contact information as retaliation,” read the ICC report.
The report said the “unjust persecution of Christians” using Pakistan’s blasphemy laws is “a worsening phenomenon.”
The European Center for Law and Justice will appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, said the report.
