Lahore woman sentenced to death for blasphemy: report

A Lahore court on Monday awarded death sentence to a Muslim woman for blasphemy under section 295C of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

“It is proved beyond reasonable doubt that accused Salma Tanveer wrote and distributed the writings which are derogatory in respect of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and she failed to prove that her case falls in exception provided by section 84 of PPC,” rules Additional District & Sessions Judge Mansoor Ahmad Qureshi in his 22-page verdict, Dawn reported.

The section 84 deals with the offences committed by a person of unsound mind.

Nishtar Colony police had registered the FIR on Sept 2, 2013 against the woman on the complaint of Qari Iftikhar Ahmad Raza, a prayer leader of a local mosque.

The woman, owner and principal of a private school, was accused of distributing photocopies of her writings wherein she denied the finality of prophethood and claimed her as a prophet.