Pakistani Court Imposes Life In Prison For Blasphemy In Disagreement Between Sunni Sects

AFP reported yesterday on another controversial blasphemy conviction in Pakistan. An anti-terrorism court in the town of Muzaffargarah sentenced imam Mohammad Shafi and his son Mohammad Aslam to life imprisonment for tearing down and trampling a poster containing Quar'anic verses. The poster, which had been  put up outside their grocery store, advertised an event in a nearby village celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.  Islamic sects differ on whether celebrating Mawlid (the Prophet's birth) is permissible. (Background.) Apparently those promoting the event were members of the Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam which publicly celebrates Mawlid, while defendants are members of the Deobandi sect of Sunni Islam which considers the celebration forbidden.