FLASH NEWS from COMPASS DIRECT Global News from the Frontlines

********** PAKISTAN SENTENCES CHRISTIAN TO DEATH Mentally Unstable Man Ruled Guilty of Blasphemy by Barbara G. Baker

ISTANBUL, July 19 (Compass) — A Pakistani Christian with a history of mental problems was given the death sentence yesterday for alleged blasphemy that “hurt the feelings of Muslims, Christians and Jews,” a Lahore court declared.

Anwar Kenneth, 45, was ordered executed by hanging and assessed a fine of 500,000 rupees ($8,335) by Lahore Additional Sessions Court Justice Sadaqat Ullah Khan. The judge declared that “apart from his objectionable remarks on Islam,” the defendant had also “antagonized the Christians and Jews” by his claims to be Jesus Christ and the king of the Jews.

In hundreds of letters, which criticized Islam and the prophet Mohammed, Kenneth reportedly claimed to be Jesus Christ and urged his readers to convert to Christianity.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed against Kenneth on September 25, 2001, the defendant had written to 608 political and religious leaders, including foreign diplomats in Pakistan, several heads of state, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and local Muslim leaders.

A former assistant director of the Fisheries Department in Lahore, Kenneth was formally accused of blasphemy by Haji Mahmood Zafar, a leader of the Anjuman Ashait-e-Islam movement who received one of Kenneth’s letters.

After his conviction yesterday, Kenneth said he would not file any appeal against his conviction, declaring his firm belief that he could not die, “even if he were thrown into fire,” the Lahore-based “Daily Times” reported. Kenneth had pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws and refused any legal defense on the case.

Although the laws of Pakistan require that a mentally disabled defendant be certified by a board of medical doctors as competent to stand trial, a lawyer representing Lahore’s Christian Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) office confirmed that Kenneth had not been given any medical examination since his arrest. Before announcing the verdict yesterday, the court dismissed an application requesting that the defendant’s psychiatric condition be examined and reported to the court.

Jailed without bail since his arrest 10 months ago, Kenneth had confessed to the charges when presented before the court on July 8, the Associated Press reported.

Earlier this month, a Pakistani Muslim with established mental problems was beaten to death by a group of Punjabi villagers for alleged blasphemy against Islam. The leader of the local mosque reportedly incited the killing of Zahid Shah on July 5 in a village near Faisalabad. Although once jailed on charges of making derogatory statements against Mohammed, Shah had been acquitted five years ago on grounds of insanity.

Two other Christians sentenced to death on blasphemy charges are already on death row in Pakistan, waiting for their appeals to be heard before higher courts. Another eight Christians remain jailed without bail, either still on trial or appealing life sentences.

Pakistan’s non-Muslim minorities have long demanded repeal of the controversial blasphemy laws, which have targeted hundreds of their number for arrest and prosecution on false charges over the past 16 years.

END

********** Copyright 2002 Compass Direct

Compass Direct Flash News is distributed as available to raise awareness of Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith. Articles may be reprinted by active subscribers only.

For subscription information, contact:

Compass Direct P.O. Box 27250 Santa Ana CA 92799-7250 USA TEL: 949-862-0314 FAX: 949-752-6536 E-mail: http://www.compassdirect.org

Gail Wahlquist Compass Direct News Service

os.yahoo.com/rlgmediaau”>http://au.photos.yahoo.com/rlgmediaau http://community.webshots.com/user/ramon_williams ——————————————————————- Telling others, what others are doing for the Lord.

— Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).