Who is Junaid Hafeez, the professor sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy?

Junaid Hafeez (Image: ANI)

After keeping former university lecturer Junaid Hafeez,33, in solitary confinement for six years, a Pakistan court has sentenced him to death on blasphemy charges.

He used to teach at Multan’s Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) till the time he was arrested by police in 2013. His trial went on for six years, and seven judges were transferred during that period. But, the larger question remains. Why is a US-return English literature graduate being sent to the gallows?

During his stint as a lecturer at BZU, Hafeez would often call on women’s rights activists to attend guest lectures he would arrange. Television writer Qaisra Shahraz was also invited to one such event, where Hafeez reportedly made blasphemous remarks. The news spread fast. Shirin Zubair, the head of the literature department, had to flee Pakistan. Hafeez, however, was not so lucky and was imprisoned shortly.

Within months of the beginning of Hafeez’s trial proceedings, his lawyer was killed. Fifteen people addressed the court from the witness stand before prosecutors established that the young professor had kept anti-religious material on his laptop.

Hafeez’s parents, however, were convinced that the case is ‘fabricated’. They also informed the-then judge that the case was being delayed on purpose and that they were finding it difficult to get a lawyer for him. Yet, the Multan court sentenced Hafeez to death including 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment on charges of flouting Pakistan’s blasphemy law, aside from slapping a fine of 5 lakh in Pakistani rupees (equivalent to Rs 2.30 lakh).

So, what is Pakistan's blasphemy law?

Section 295-B, on the other hand, states: “Whoever wilfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Qur’an or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life.”

So far, no one has been executed in Pakistan for blasphemy, but extrajudicial killings are rampant. A similar case surfaced back in 2010 when a Christian woman named Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for blasphemy. She, however, was acquitted later on for lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, #JusticeForJunaidHafeez is trending on Twitter by users who claim him to be innocent.

This is a complete travesty of justice. He is an innocent man who only tried to teach his students to think. People will come out on the streets for a dictator but God forbid you'd actually stand up for an innocent man. #JusticeForJunaidHafeez https://t.co/xEwLGaokmr

— Tania Saeed (@taniasaeed) December 21, 2019

An innocent Pakistani whose crime is to teach his students to think, he is given death sentence after ordeal of 6 years. His lawer was killed in 2014 . #JusticeForJunaidHafeez pic.twitter.com/wo3mDbaMlQ

— Imran Akhtar (@imran20three) December 21, 2019

Extremely shocking!
As a Muslim, I strongly believe that blasphemy law is against the true spirit of Islam and absolutely contrary to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, viz., love, compassion, mercy, tolerance & forgiveness.#JusticeForJunaidHafeez https://t.co/yBWik23zHF

— Ziauddin Yousafzai (@ZiauddinY) December 21, 2019

How dare he post this on the same day that Junaid Hafeez is sentenced with death? #JusticeForJunaidHafeez https://t.co/4HLbS3aAlj

— zahra malkani (@zmlkn) December 21, 2019

While we lynch Mashals
On a broad day light.
And hang a teacher,
A scholar, Fulbright.
Can we reflect on?
What is just and right?
Will sanity prevail one day?
Is there a hope in sight ??!!#JusticeForJunaidHafeez pic.twitter.com/Mj2bLVGGpq

— Ziauddin Yousafzai (@ZiauddinY) December 21, 2019

(With agency inputs)