A new life for a woman convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan: “My release is a testimony”

The story of Shagufta Kausar has taken an unexpected turn. After being sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, Kausar has been released, a release she herself describes as “an act of God’s mercy and a victory for persecuted Christians.”

Kausar was imprisoned alongside her husband, both unjustly accused on religious grounds, and detained in the Punjab province. She reported suffering torture and violence while her children helplessly witnessed these traumatic events. According to her testimony, the authorities even threatened to strip her naked and throw her into the street if her husband did not confess to sending allegedly blasphemous messages. They also demanded that she convert to Islam, which she flatly refused.

Her release comes amid growing international pressure, particularly from the European Parliament. Kausar asserted that without the resolution passed by that institution in 2021, an emergency measure in favor of those persecuted under blasphemy laws, she would likely not be alive today.

Human rights organizations have warned of a rise in similar cases in Pakistan: religious minorities (especially Christians) facing arbitrary accusations, prolonged detentions, and death sentences under blasphemy laws considered “sacred” by Islamist groups. This hinders any attempt to reform the penal system.

Kausar’s testimony and release have reopened the debate on justice and fundamental rights in Pakistan. His story symbolizes not only the suffering of many innocent people but also the importance of international pressure and global solidarity in protecting those persecuted for their faith.