“In his open letter, Kenneth merely stated that his Christian belief does not endorse Islam. He hasn’t used any derogatory language for prophet Muhammad that warranted a conviction under blasphemy.”
All one has to do to be accused of blasphemy in Pakistan is affirm the Christian faith, or any other faith, without directly insulting Muhammad at all.
“Christian Acquitted after 23 Years on Death Row for ‘Blasphemy,’” Morning Star News, June 25, 2025:
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan today (June 25) ordered the acquittal of an elderly Christian on death row for 23 years on a blasphemy conviction, declaring that a person of unsound mind could not be held liable for such a crime, his lawyer said.
Supreme Court attorney Rana Abdul Hameed said that a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Shahzad Ahmed Khan and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan acquitted Anwar Kenneth, a 72-year-old Catholic, of the blasphemy allegations.
“It is very unfortunate that an elderly man has languished in various prisons for over two decades despite his mental health condition,” Hameed, a Muslim, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “The Supreme Court’s decision to acquit him in view of his mental illness, though after a prolonged delay, will help in highlighting the plight of dozens of other blasphemy prisoners who are also suffering from mental health challenges, yet their cases have been pending for years.”
Hameed lauded the Supreme Court judges for making the right decision despite pressure from lawyers affiliated with various Islamist groups, including the Khatm-e-Nabbuwat (Finality of Prophethood) Lawyers Forum.
“These lawyers and clerics caused a ruckus in the courtroom as soon as the judges announced the acquittal order,” Hameed said. “Kenneth’s acquittal is a big setback to them, as it will have an impact on all blasphemy cases of similar nature.”…
“Though Islam is one of the three Abrahamic faiths, and Muslims believe in all prophets, including Jesus Christ, Christians and Jews don’t believe in prophet Muhammad,” Hameed stated. “In his open letter, Kenneth merely stated that his Christian belief does not endorse Islam. He hasn’t used any derogatory language for prophet Muhammad that warranted a conviction under blasphemy.”
Kenneth’s appeal against the high court’s decision had lingered for years. On March 12, 2024, the Supreme Court directed the country’s top Islamic body, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), and two Christian bodies – the Pakistan Church Council and the United Church Council of Islamabad – to advise the court on whether content that left the Catholic on death row for over two decades was in fact blasphemous.
A three-member Supreme Court bench in January 2023 noted the need for legal representation for Kenneth and requested that the Pakistan Bar Council provide a defense attorney after five state-provided lawyers recused themselves from the case.
Hameed, who has successfully defended several persons falsely charged with blasphemy, agreed to represent the Christian with the support of advocacy group Jubilee Campaign Netherlands.
Kenneth’s family members had previously told this reporter that he worked as a deputy director in the fisheries department when he was arrested. According to them, Kenneth was a well-educated man with a deep interest in his Christian faith.
“My brother was a Bible scholar and often engaged in scholastic discussions with his Muslim friends and religious leaders,” Kenneth’s 83-year-old elder sister, Reshma Bibi, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News in March 2024. “He also communicated his religious ideas and values through his letter-writing, but he was never disrespectful towards any holy personality. It was one of these letters that was used to silence him.”…
Isabella Hale says
AS far as I am concerned,, Praise the Lord for the man being released. and ALL AND EVERY CHRISTIAN AND CATHOLIC SHOULD GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST EVEN IF THEY ARE OF ARABIC DESCENT. THE SPECIOUSNESS OF THE ISLAMIC SHARIA LAW PUTS ALL CHRISTIANS AND CATHOLICS IN DANGER of IMPRISONMENT OR DEATH.
Tony Rice says
The laws re blasphemy in Pakistan are sick and not acceptable in this day and age. Should be repealed, people should be able to say what they want and for others to decide for against or not.
rick says
Muslims are laughing the whole way. There are some who are not content with anything less than a death sentence complete with torture before the sword lops off his head but many are satisfied with 23 years on Death Row for a ridiculous charge. The “people” of Pakistan came out in doves to demand the “blasphemy laws” never be changed. The general population of Pakistan is a wild, radical one where their hearts and minds are filled with hate. If they thought for a moment that a nuclear war with India could be “won” they would demand that the war be begun immediately. This religion of Hate is the greatest threat to the Human race everywhere on earth. They spread it through sending immigrants to as many countries as possible to whip up hatred and demands to destroy civilization. Muslims are today in the 21st century, cavemen with nuclear weapons. Does anyone doubt that if Hamas had one nuclear bomb they would drop it on Israel? If Iran had several nuclear bombs they would send them to both Israel and the US? If the Houthies were given a nuclear bomb it would be used within a month of receiving it? Hezbollah would have used their nuclear bomb as well. And only the arsenal of India prevents the nation of Pakistan from sending theirs into India. All these groups are filled with troglodytes.
Liz says
If Islamic countries were to be the Advanced World power countries, and Christians were the ones to migrate to them, the manner the West and Europe are opening their doors to immigrants , middle easterners, Arabs, Muslims immigrants, if it were to be the other way round, and migrants from Christians countries were to migrate to Muslim countries, their heads would have been chopped off even before entering the Muslim countries.
Hoi Polloi says
“Though Islam is one of the three Abrahamic faiths,“
No, it’s not. Islam does not honor the respect for life teachings of the other two, but goes its own way in permitting, and even commanding, true evil.
A man who is made to serve a 23 year sentence for stating that he’s Christian is a perfect symbol of how little the West should accept islam or admit its followers.
somehistory says
Too true, HP.
At least the lawyer took the case and helped get the man released.
It’s really sad that so many Christians reside in that awful evil-infested place.
And that so many people who don’t reside there, have such a positive view of the filthy evil that infests that place and so many other places….with the number of places increasing.
Hoi Polloi says
+1
Hoi Polloi says
+1
Billy says
Non-Muslims are Criminals under Islam and Islamic Law, Sharia, because the Non-Muslim DOES NOT BELIEVE in Allah. Islam and its murderous god, Allah, demand a continuous Muslim war, a RELIGIOUS DUTY, against unbelievers where Non-Muslims are CRIMINALS under Islam due to illegal UNBELIEF and unlawful BLASPHEMY against Allah when despicable Allah in Qur’an 8:39 says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…”
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Kenneth was really bright! Why would a Christian in Pakistan, of all places, choose to discuss, much less debate, his faith w/ muslims, much less their religious leaders? Why not just keep it to himself, or discuss it w/ people close to him, or on forums? He’s not David Wood or Hatun Tash discussing it in a relative safe environment (I know, I know, Hatun ain’t all that safe), so why risk it? He was lucky to be only imprisoned for 23 years: he’d normally have been eliminated by a lynch mob
OLD GUY says
Islam survies through the use of FEAR, it can’t stand on its own when seriously debated.