Additional Name(s): Ayaz Nizami
Gender: Male
Current Location: Central Jail Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: Death
Date of Detainment: March/22/2017
Date of Sentencing: January/8/2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Blasphemy (Religious Figures)
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech Terrorism
Abdul Waheed is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.
On March 22, 2017, security services reportedly kidnapped Waheed after he was accused of uploading blasphemous content on the internet.
On September 12, 2017, Waheed was indicted.
On January 8, 2021, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad sentenced Waheed to death. He was reportedly found guilty of "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC), "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC), and terrorism defined as "inciting hatred and contempt on religious, sectarian or ethnic basis to strip up violence or cause internal disturbance" (Sec. 7 (g) Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997).
Related Cases: Rana Nouman RafaÂqat, Nasir Ahmad, Anwaar Ahmad
"ATC hands death penalty to Nasir Sultani, 2 others in blasphemy case" Bol
"In a first, three get death for 'cyberspace blasphemy'" Dawn
USCIRF Policy Update: Pakistan's Blasphemy Law October 2019
"Dangerous situation for Freethinkers and Humanists in Pakistan" International Humanist and Ethical Union
"Pakistan is harassing and persecuting the non-religious under the guise of 'blasphemy'" Humanists International