‘Texting’ couple found guilty of blasphemy

Christians and human-rights groups in Pakistan have been stunned by a second blasphemy death sentence for Christians within a week, writes Anto Akkara.

Shafqat Emmanuel and his wife Shagufta Kausar were sentenced to death on a blasphemy charge on 4 April – following the 27 March death sentence given to a Catholic – Sawan Masih – in similarly fabricated circumstances.

The Christian couple are illiterate but were convicted of sending a blasphemous text message in English from their mobile phone, which they had reported stolen.

n David Cameron said during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday that he would raise the blasphemy laws with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif.