Additional Name(s): Tariq Ahmad Shehzad

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Ahmadiyya

Date of Detainment: September/29/2020

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Online Activity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Conversion Hate Speech

Hafiz Tariq Shehzad

Extra Bio Info:

Hafiz Tariq Shehzad is detained for blasphemy.

On September 29, 2020, authorities arrested Shehzad after accusing him of sharing perceived blasphemous materials. He was charged with several offenses, including "inciting interfaith hatred" (Sec. 11 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016), "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC), and "posing as Muslim" (Sec. 298-C PPC).

On June 29, 2021, the trial court added "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC) and "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC) to the charges against Shehzad.

In October 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released an opinion on Shehzad's detention, calling for his immediate release.

Related Cases: Rohan Ahmad, Malik Usman Ahmad

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