A lesson to learn about what fascists of all stripes mean by “terrorism”: this man was “convicted and sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court.”
In Pakistan, blasphemy constitutes “terrorism,” so Syed Muhammad Zeeshan is deemed a “terrorist” under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Anti-Terrorist Act in Peshawar, and was thus convicted of “terrorism” by the court and sentenced to death.
In countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran, “terrorism” is defined as any act that undermines the ideologies and leadership of these governments.
In applying this lesson to Western countries, beware of any government that displays totalitarian tendencies by spending inordinate amounts of time and money monitoring the Internet instead of fighting real crime and terrorism.
“Pakistan: Anti-terrorism court pronounces death sentence to Muslim man over blasphemous WhatsApp post,” WION, March 26, 2023:
A Muslim man was convicted and sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court in northwest Pakistan after he faced an accusation of sharing a blasphemous post in a WhatsApp group.
n Pakistan, where the majority population is Muslim, blasphemy remains a hugely sensitive issue as even allegations which are unproven can stir mobs and lead to violence.
The court convicted Syed Muhammad Zeeshan under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Anti-Terrorist Act in Peshawar on Friday.
“Accused Syed Muhammad Zeeshan, son of Syed Zakaullah in custody has been convicted and sentenced after being found guilty,” read the court order, according to the AFP.
Zeeshan, who lives in the country’s northwest city of Mardan, was also slapped with a fine of Rs1.2 million ($4,300) and given 23 years of rigorous imprisonment. The man has the right to appeal against the court order.
Two years ago, an application was filed by Muhammad Saeed, who resides in Talagang, Punjab province, with the Federal Investigation Agency in which he accused Zeeshan of sharing blasphemous posts in a WhatsApp group, said Saeed’s counsel Ibrar Hussain while speaking to the AFP.
The “FIA had confiscated Zeeshan’s cellphone and its forensic examination proved him guilty”, he added. Although the laws of Pakistan prohibiting blasphemy may carry a potential death sentence, it has never been enforced so far for the crime…..
