Pakistan’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of a Christian man accused of blasphemy, while acquitting his younger brother in a case that has drawn international concern over religious freedom, fair-trial safeguards and the country’s controversial blasphemy laws.
Qaiser Ayub, a Christian father of three, was sentenced to death along with his brother, Amoon Ayub, by a trial court in December 2018. The Lahore High Court upheld their convictions in June 2022. On October 7, 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed Qaiser’s appeal but acquitted Amoon, citing insufficient evidence against him.
The case dates back to 2011, when allegations emerged that blasphemous content had been published on a website associated with Qaiser. He maintained that he had closed the website in 2009 and that someone else had subsequently revived it, retaining his name in its copyright details. The brothers were arrested in 2014. The prosecution reportedly relied substantially on electronic evidence, raising concerns among rights advocates about its authenticity and verification.
The UK-based Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which has supported the brothers, expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s decision and urged that every remaining legal avenue be pursued. Human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that blasphemy accusations in Pakistan can be exploited to settle personal disputes or target religious minorities, while defendants and their lawyers may face intimidation.
Under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code, anyone convicted of making derogatory remarks about Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, faces the death penalty. Although Pakistani courts have handed down numerous death sentences in blasphemy cases, the state has so far not carried out an execution for the offence. However, accusations of blasphemy have triggered mob lynchings and extrajudicial killings, with individuals accused of the offence also facing threats, prolonged imprisonment and violence even before their cases are decided.
The case has also drawn attention to the wider international landscape of blasphemy and apostasy laws. According to Humanists UK and research cited by the UK Parliament, 12 countries retain the death penalty for blasphemy and/or apostasy: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen.
All 12 are Muslim-majority nations. In some, apostasy — renouncing or leaving a religion — is explicitly punishable by death, while in others blasphemy laws carry capital punishment or the two offences are treated as overlapping. In Nigeria, such provisions apply in certain northern states operating under Sharia-based criminal law.
Human rights advocates argue that the continued existence of these laws raises serious questions about freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression and the protection of religious minorities. They have called on governments to repeal capital punishment for religious offences and ensure that individuals are not persecuted for their beliefs, religious conversion or peaceful expression.
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