Islamabad, Pakistan — The Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted Anwar Kenneth, a 72‑year‑old Christian man who spent 23 years on death row following a blasphemy conviction. The court ruled that a person of unsound mind cannot be held criminally liable, marking a rare and significant decision in the context of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws. 

According to reports, a three-judge Supreme Court bench — Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Shahzad Ahmed Khan, and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan — delivered the ruling, acknowledging that Anwar Kenneth suffered from mental illness and was unfit to stand trial when charged under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code in 2001. 

LEAD Ministries Pakistan, a Christian advocacy group, welcomed the decision while raising grave concerns about the conditions that allowed Kenneth’s wrongful imprisonment to persist for over two decades. 

Pastor Imran Amanat, Director of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, stated: “We welcome this long-overdue acquittal, but Brother Kenneth’s 23-year ordeal exposes a serious failure in our legal and mental health systems. Blasphemy laws must never be enforced without fair trial protections and mental health evaluations. This judgment should prompt a national reckoning with how we treat the vulnerable, especially religious minorities.” 

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Founder of LEAD Ministries and a longtime human rights attorney, added: “This decision reaffirms that mentally ill individuals cannot and should not be punished for crimes they cannot understand. But Anwar Kenneth is not safe — far from it. Despite his acquittal, he remains extremely vulnerable due to the hostile environment for those once accused of blasphemy in Pakistan.” 

“The state must ensure his protection and prevent mob violence. We are deeply concerned about his safety and well-being outside prison. The government must take immediate steps to provide him with a secure and dignified environment.” 

Kenneth, a former government employee and devout Catholic, was accused of sending letters containing blasphemous remarks and was sentenced to death in 2002. Despite clear signs of mental instability, his appeals were repeatedly delayed or dismissed, leaving him to languish in solitary confinement for over two decades. 

LEAD Ministries emphasized that this ruling must lead to structural reforms in Pakistan’s criminal justice system. 

“This case is a wake-up call,” said Gill. “Pakistan needs legislation mandating psychological assessments before any blasphemy trial, and mechanisms to protect the accused from mob threats. Without such safeguards, Kenneth’s victory will mean little for others still trapped in the same system.” 

Human rights groups and legal observers are calling this acquittal a rare but necessary act of judicial courage and a possible precedent for the future handling of similar cases. “We will not rest,” Pastor Amanat said, “until no person in Pakistan suffers injustice simply because of their faith or mental condition.” 

In Pakistan, blasphemy has become a tool for personal and political gain, often used to target minorities, settle scores, or eliminate rivals. False accusations can lead to violence or legal action without proof, while some exploit religious sentiment for power, money, or influence. This turns faith into a dangerous business, undermining justice and social harmony.