Pakistani Court Imposes Life Sentence for Blasphemy

The Gulf Times reported yesterday that a Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced writer Younus Shaik to life in prison for writing an allegedly blasphemous book about the Qur’an and the Islamic justice system. The book, titled "Satanic Cleric" described the "four Imams" as Jews, public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa said. The four Imams were the third generation interpreters of the religion after the Prophet Muhammad, and their views on law are widely respected by Muslims, he said. Shaik was also found to have committed blasphemy by saying that stoning to death for adultery was not mentioned in the Qur’an. Pakistani newspapers said Shaik was a hotel manager who had little academic background and no religious education.