**Updates IFEX alerts of 9 July 2003, 12 March, 20, 2 and 1 February and 30 January 2001** (PPF/IFEX) – On 10 July 2003, Munawar Mohsin, sub-editor of the Peshawar-based “Frontier Post” newspaper, who was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 rupees (approx. US$860), filed an appeal in […]
**Updates IFEX alerts of 9 July 2003, 12 March, 20, 2 and 1 February and 30 January 2001**
(PPF/IFEX) – On 10 July 2003, Munawar Mohsin, sub-editor of the Peshawar-based “Frontier Post” newspaper, who was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 rupees (approx. US$860), filed an appeal in the Peshawar High Court.
Mohsin was convicted on 8 July by Additional District and Sessions Judge Sardar Irshad, who held him responsible for publication of a “blasphemous” letter in “The Frontier Post” on 29 January 2001.
Mohsin appealed to the High Court to overturn his trial court conviction on the grounds that the controversial letter’s publication was neither wilful nor intentional. The appeal, filed by lawyer Kamran Arif, maintained that the judgment ran counter to the law and the facts on record in the case.
The appellant said the trial judge had committed a serious illegality by not following the mandatory provisions of Section 465 of the Criminal Procedure Code, even when it was established by the prosecution’s evidence that the appellant had a history of mental illness for which he had received treatment.
Mohsin added that the trial judge had relied solely on his so-called “confessional statement”, which could not be relied upon. The appellant said the confessional statement, even if believed, would totally absolve him of any criminal liability as it clearly stated that he had not read the blasphemous letter received by e-mail at the office of “The Frontier Post”.
