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| Blasphemy case: Briton in Pakistan sentenced to death | Blasphemy case: Briton in Pakistan sentenced to death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A court in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi has sentenced a 65-year-old British man to death after convicting him of blasphemy. | A court in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi has sentenced a 65-year-old British man to death after convicting him of blasphemy. |
| Mohammad Asghar was arrested in 2010 after writing letters to various people claiming to be a prophet, reports say. | Mohammad Asghar was arrested in 2010 after writing letters to various people claiming to be a prophet, reports say. |
| His lawyers argued for leniency saying he has a history of mental illness, but this was rejected by a medical panel. | 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. | 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. | 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 is thought to have lived in Pakistan for several years. | Mr Asghar, who is believed to have family in Scotland, was accused of writing letters to police officers claiming to be a prophet. He is thought to have 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. | |
| She says she will launch an appeal against the verdict, which was delivered late on Thursday. | She says she will launch an appeal against the verdict, which was delivered late on Thursday. |
| Correspondents say Mr Asghar is unlikely to be executed as Pakistan has had a moratorium on the death penalty since 2008. | 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. | Critics argue that Pakistan's blasphemy laws are frequently misused to settle personal scores and that members of minority groups are also unfairly targeted. |
| In 2012 the arrest of a young Christian girl, Rimsha, on blasphemy charges provoked international outrage. After being detained in a high security prison for several weeks she was eventually released and her family subsequently fled to Canada. | In 2012 the arrest of a young Christian girl, Rimsha, on blasphemy charges provoked international outrage. After being detained in a high security prison for several weeks she was eventually released and her family subsequently fled to Canada. |
| Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97% of the population are Muslim. | 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. | Muslims constitute a majority of those prosecuted, followed by the minority Ahmadi community. |