Anwar Kenneth was allegedly accused of committing blasphemy, and was arrested in September 2001 for an offense under section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code. On 18 July 2002, an additional session judge, Lahore awarded him the death penalty and a fine of 5,00,000 rupees, and he was sent to jail right after the verdict was delivered. On 30 June 2014, a two-member bench of the Lahore High Court bench upheld the verdict of the trial court. He has been on death row for over 21 years, as five state lawyers recused from the case to avoid representing the convict before the court.
An FIR (No. 251/2001) under section 295 C of PPP for acts involving derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad, was lodged on 25 September 2001 at Gawalmandi Police Station, Lahore against Anwar Kenneth s/o Veera Masih, a former official of the Fisheries Department, for sending an objectionable letter to Muslim religious scholars, and disseminating a copy of his communication with Haji Mehmood Zafar to the head of states in the World, foreign diplomats in Pakistan, and the United Nations’ secretary general and Christian Theologians.
Anwar Kenneth had to face conviction for sending a reply to a communication received from Haji Mehmood Zafar, Secretary General Anjman Ashiat at Islam (Reg.) Jamia Mosque, Lahore wherein Haji Mehmood Zafar asked questions regarding Christianity, and believed that Jesus Christ is a prophet, but he denied believing that Jesus was crucified on the cross, buried, and resurrected on the third day from the dead.
In his reply to a communication from a Muslim religious leader, he gave references to his arguments from the Holy Bible, and mentioned that there is no prophecy regarding any prophet from the tribe of Ishmael, so Mohammad was not the prophet of God and his book is not the word of God, which is a fundamental belief of Muslims. Moreover, he invited the Muslim religious leader to accept Jesus Christ as his savior to enter the Kingdom of God. Moreover, he challenged Muslims to frame a blasphemy case against him, as he believed that he will not die even if thrown into the furnace, as God is his shield, and He will protect and save him.
Anwar believes that God is his counsel, so he has been refusing the help of a defense lawyer to challenge the decision in the appellant court, therefore, the case was concluded without a defense. On 24 January 2023, a three-member bench of the supreme court took up the petition and noted that the case of Anwar Kenneth cannot proceed forward without the assistance of counsel. The court asked the Pakistan Bar Council to provide counsel to represent the convict before the court in the interest of dispensation of criminal justice. A lawyer has consented to represent Anwar Kenneth before Supreme Court in a hearing on 1 March 2023.
The chairman of the Voice for Justice, Joseph Jansen said that religious freedom is a fundamental human right protected by national and international laws, which guarantees individuals to pursue any religious belief without fear of persecution. He added that Anwar Kenneth pledges allegiance to God, and is firm in his faith in Christianity, and his arguments and opinion should not be interpreted as an act of blasphemy. He observed that blasphemy laws are oppressive and misapplied to settle personal vengeance without any solid grounds, and the accused had to spend multiple years in prison, and their families had to face the brunt of the sufferings offered by these lethal accusations for a lifetime, and this is an example of pendency in cases involving an accusation of blasphemy.
Abdul Hameed Rana advocate said that Anwar Kenneth is a devout believer and an innocent person. There are billions of people in the world, who have their own religion and do not believe in Islam, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the Holy Quran and they are not liable to be prosecuted in any court of law for their beliefs. He added that a biased and prejudiced investigation was conducted by the police, and the charges leveled against him are baseless, and have neither been proven nor have any witnesses produced before the court. He added that the question of the offense of blasphemy does not arise against Anwar Kenneth in any manner whatsoever, therefore he must be acquitted as he has already spent 21 years of his life behind the bar for the offense he has never committed.
Aneel Edger said that the supreme court in 2022 held that depriving minorities of holding their religious beliefs, and obstructing them from professing and practicing their religion is against the provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan, therefore, Lahore High Court’s decision regarding Anwar Kennett’s conviction under an offense punishable with death must be revisited by the apex court. He added that the written communication between two religious leaders practicing their respective faiths; Christian and Islam must not be construed as an act of blasphemy. Ashiknaz Khokar said that Anwar Kenneth must be given an opportunity to exercise the right to a fair trial, and lead a dignified life free from prison where he has been for over 21 years, which is injustice. He added that the blasphemy case cannot be framed without solid evidence, as the beliefs of one faith are always in conflict with the other faiths, so whatever one believes in and opinion ones have, ought to be respected. He observed that both the religious leaders were engaged in a dialogue and shared their beliefs according to the teaching of their religions, so in a sense, they are exercising their right to preach, protected under religious freedom, which should not be considered as an offense.
