Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, a married couple with four children, lived in poverty in
a mission compound at Gojra Church in the Toba Tek Singh District of Punjab, Pakistan.
Shagufta was the sole provider for the family, as Shafqat was confined to a wheelchair due to a
spinal injury from an accident in 2004 that left him paralyzed below the chest.
In July 2013, Shafqat and Shagufta were arrested after being accused of sending a text message
deemed blasphemous against the Islamic prophet Muhammad. During the investigation, they
endured severe torture. Shagufta later reported, “The officers told my husband that if he did not
confess, they would strip me naked and make me run around on the street, and so he
confessed, even though we were both innocent.” Shafqat was hung upside down, beaten, and
tortured into a confession.
On April 4, 2014, the illiterate couple was sentenced to death by an additional session judge in
Toba Tek Singh for allegedly sending the blasphemous message in English. Despite their
inability to read or write, the judge handed down the death sentence, marking them the first
Pakistani couple to receive a death sentence for blasphemy. Even the prosecuting attorneys
threatened the judge, declaring they would become “ghazis” (Muslim warriors), like Ilm-ud-din
and Mumtaz Qadri, if the couple was not sentenced to death.
Voice for Justice took up the appeal against Shafqat and Shagufta’s death sentence togher with
renowned lawyer Saif-Ul-Malook. They played a significant role in publishing articles worldwide
to raise public awareness of Shafqat and Shagufta’s case.
After years of advocacy, on June 3, 2021, the Lahore High Court overturned their convictions
due to a lack of evidence. However, the couple could not remain safely in Pakistan and were
eventually granted asylum in a European country.
Voice for Justice was also involved in inspiring a resolution in the European Parliament, lobbying
numerous members of the European Parliament to address the human rights abuses linked to
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and to advocate for the release of Shagufta and Shafqat. The
resulting resolution from the European Union in April 2021 condemned Pakistan’s blasphemy
laws and called for the immediate release of Shafqat and Shagufta. Shortly afterward, the
Lahore High Court on June 2, 2021 issued an acquittal, freeing the couple.
However, remaining in Pakistan was unsafe for the couple, and they were eventually granted
asylum in a European country. Voice for Justice played a supportive role in their resettlement,
warmly welcoming the family at the airport and ensuring a smooth transition to their new home.