Jaranwala riots: Christian youth gets death sentence for sharing video online

A Christian youth has been sentenced to death and 22 years in prison for sharing a provocative social media post that incited riots in Jaranwala last August.

Special Judge Ziaullah Khan of the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Sahiwal delivered the verdict following allegations of Quran desecration, which triggered mob violence resulting in significant damage to Christian homes and churches.

The riots in Jaranwala saw mobs vandalizing and ransacking dozens of Christian homes and approximately 20 churches after accusations of desecrating a copy of the Holy Quran emerged.

Punjab police reported that around 135 individuals were charged for the attacks on the minority community in Jaranwala.

However, Advocate Akmal Bhatti, chairman of the Minorities Alliance, stated that most of the accused have either been discharged or released on bail, with only 12 individuals currently facing trial. Earlier this year, a Faisalabad court acquitted two Christian brothers who had been falsely accused of blasphemy.

The convicted youth was charged under various sections, including blasphemy and electronic crimes, based on allegations that he shared blasphemous content on social media platforms.