Pakistan’s top court frees mentally ill Christian man after 23 years on death row
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has acquitted a 74-year-old Christian man who spent more than two decades on death row for blasphemy
ISLAMABAD (MNTV) — Pakistan’s Supreme Court has acquitted a 74-year-old Christian man who spent more than two decades on death row for blasphemy, after medical specialists determined he suffers from a severe mental illness.
A three-judge bench led by Justice Athar Minallah overturned the conviction and death sentence of Anwar Kenneth, citing findings from a court-appointed medical board that diagnosed him with Bipolar Affective Disorder.
“The appellant is more than 74 years old and has spent around 23 years in prison, most of which was in the death cell,” the court said in its ruling.
“The opinion of the Medical Board raises doubt regarding the culpability of the appellant and its benefit cannot be withheld in the facts and circumstances of this case.”
The court ordered Kenneth’s immediate release, provided he is not wanted in any other case, and instructed the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) to ensure his psychiatric treatment continues without interruption.
Kenneth was arrested in September 2001 after Lahore police accused him of writing a letter containing blasphemous material — an offense punishable by death under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code.
He pleaded guilty during his trial and was sentenced to death in 2002.
The Lahore High Court upheld the verdict in 2014.
The case reached the Supreme Court in 2017, but remained pending for years. In December 2024, the court asked the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) to review the letter at the center of the case and directed the PIMH to conduct a psychiatric evaluation.
A medical board of eight specialists later concluded that Kenneth displayed symptoms of grandiosity, delusion, and disorganized thought, typical of Bipolar Disorder, which raised serious doubts about his mental capacity during trial.
The Supreme Court found that no psychiatric assessment had been conducted during his prosecution — a violation of basic due process.
“The conduct of the appellant during the investigation and the trial was not that of a normal and sane person,” the judgment noted.
Justice Minallah’s ruling emphasized that Pakistan’s legal system has a responsibility to protect defendants who are mentally unfit to stand trial.
The judgment referenced the landmark Safia Bano case, which established safeguards for prisoners with mental illness.
Kenneth’s acquittal marks one of the few instances in Pakistan’s history where a blasphemy conviction has been overturned — particularly on mental health grounds.
Blasphemy remains a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where the offense carries severe penalties, including death, and allegations often provoke public outrage or violence.
Rights groups have long called for safeguards to prevent abuse of the law, especially against religious minorities and mentally ill individuals.
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