Pakistan court hands out death sentence to Christian man for blasphemy

A Pakistan court has reportedly sentenced a man to death on account of blasphemy, triggering a riot in Lahore.

The accused, Sawan Masih, was found guilty of insulting the Prophet Mohammed, following a conversation with a Muslim friend in the Joseph Colony neighborhood of Lahore in March last year.

According to the Dawn, more than 3000 Muslims stormed through Joseph Colony, torching some 100 Christian homes, after the allegations against Masih emerged.

However, maintaining his innocence, Masih said that the actual reason behind the blasphemy allegation was a property dispute between him and his friend.

Naeem Shakir, one of Masih's lawyers said that they would appeal the sentence in the Lahore High Court.

According to a recent US report, Pakistan reportedly ranks No. 1 among countries that increasingly uses blasphemy laws to jail citizens for 'attacking' religion.