A court in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi has sentenced a 65-year-old British man to death after convicting him of blasphemy.
According to the reports, Mohammad Asghar was arrested in 2010 after writing letters to various people claiming to be a prophet.
His lawyers argued for leniency saying he has a history of mental illness, but this was rejected by a medical panel.
Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws carry a potential death sentence for anyone deemed to have insulted Islam.
Several recent cases have prompted international concern about the application of these laws.
Mr Asghar, who is believed to have family in Scotland, was accused of writing letters to police officers claiming to be a prophet. He has reportedly lived in Pakistan for several years.
His lawyer told the BBC’s Saba Eitizaz that she was forcibly removed from the case by the judge and that proceedings were carried out behind closed doors.
Correspondents say Mr Asghar is unlikely to be executed as Pakistan has had a moratorium on the death penalty since 2008.
Critics argue that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are frequently misused to settle personal scores and that members of minority groups are also unfairly targeted.
Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97% of the population are Muslim. Muslims constitute a majority of those prosecuted, followed by the minority Ahmadi community.
According to the reports, Mohammad Asghar was arrested in 2010 after writing letters to various people claiming to be a prophet.
His lawyers argued for leniency saying he has a history of mental illness, but this was rejected by a medical panel.
Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws carry a potential death sentence for anyone deemed to have insulted Islam.
Several recent cases have prompted international concern about the application of these laws.
Mr Asghar, who is believed to have family in Scotland, was accused of writing letters to police officers claiming to be a prophet. He has reportedly lived in Pakistan for several years.
His lawyer told the BBC’s Saba Eitizaz that she was forcibly removed from the case by the judge and that proceedings were carried out behind closed doors.
Correspondents say Mr Asghar is unlikely to be executed as Pakistan has had a moratorium on the death penalty since 2008.
Critics argue that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are frequently misused to settle personal scores and that members of minority groups are also unfairly targeted.
Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97% of the population are Muslim. Muslims constitute a majority of those prosecuted, followed by the minority Ahmadi community.
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