ACLJ Urges UN To Act in Case of Christian Brother Who Is Facing Execution by Hanging After Pakistan Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence

We recently shared with you news about the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision in the Ayub brothers’ case. Through our office in Pakistan, the Organization for Legal Aid (OLA), we represent both Ayub brothers. As we previously reported, the Court correctly acquitted Amoon of all charges, but upheld Qaisar’s conviction and death sentence.

This decision is deeply concerning because this is the first time Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ever upheld the conviction and death sentence in a blasphemy case. Due to the severe implications this decision will have on Qaisar and others falsely accused of blasphemy, we have just made an urgent submission to Special Procedures with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and will be briefing the office of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions this week.

The brief facts are these: Two Christian brothers, Qaisar and Amoon Ayub, were arrested and charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws in 2014 and 2015, respectively, for allegedly publishing online material insulting to the Prophet Muhammad. In 2018, both were sentenced to death by hanging, and their convictions were upheld by the Lahore High Court in 2022. On July 6, 2026, the Supreme Court finally heard the arguments and, on October 7, 2026, announced its decision upholding Qaisar’s conviction and death sentence and acquitting Amoon.

Through the OLA, we have exclusively represented Amoon since his arrest in 2015. However, another law firm represented Qaisar until the case reached the Supreme Court, at which time he requested our representation. We are obviously grateful that the Supreme Court was correct in acquitting Amoon, while we disagree with their ruling upholding Qaisar’s conviction and death sentence. Therefore, the OLA is preparing to file a Review Petition with the Supreme Court within the next few days, and we have mobilized our international teams to join in a massive collaborative effort to ensure justice is achieved for Qaisar.

Since Pakistan enacted blasphemy laws in the 1980s, hundreds of blasphemy cases have been registered against Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and even Muslims. Many have served their sentences, many are still facing trials, some have been murdered, and others like Qaisar, Shahzad Masih, and Ahsan Masih are on death row. However, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has never upheld the conviction and death sentence in a blasphemy case, until now.

In fact, Pakistan has had a de facto moratorium on executions since 2019. That same year the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of a Muslim man, Wajih ul Hassan, after he had spent about 18 years in prison for alleged blasphemy. The Supreme Court also recently acquitted Anwar Kenneth, a 72-year-old Christian man, after 24 years on death row for alleged blasphemy. This makes the recent ruling even more disturbing. Is the de facto moratorium coming to an end? What has changed? The ACLJ is going to fight for justice for Qaisar, as well as for all of those on death row for alleged blasphemy charges.

We will continue to update you as the case progresses and ask you to continue to pray for Qaisar and his family, for Amoon’s safety, and for wisdom for our teams. 

Take action with us. Sign our petition to save Qaisar: Save Christian Brother From Execution.