PRIME Minister David Cameron has described the treatment of former Edinburgh resident Mohammad Asghar, pictured, who is on death row in Pakistan, as appalling.
We agree.
Last month, the 70-year-old was shot and wounded by a prison guard who has been charged with attempted murder. Mr Asghar is recovering, but his lawyers fear he is still in danger of being killed.
However, the question remains why he is on death row at all. A doctor diagnosed Mr Asghar with paranoid schizophrenia in 2010 and he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Shortly after this, he moved to Pakistan where he was sentenced to death in 2014. His crime? Writing letters in which he claimed to be the Prophet Mohammed.
Despite being offered proof of his diagnosis in Scotland, the court ruled Mr Asghar sane. He is on death row in contravention of international standards that state the death penalty must not be imposed against those suffering mental illness.
Pakistan's blasphemy laws carry a potential death sentence and target Muslims and religious minorities alike. They are totally inconsistent with the country's international human rights commitments, including on the rights to freedom of expression, conscience and religion.
Amnesty activists are campaigning to Pakistan authorities for Mr Asghar's immediate release and to have his sentence quashed. He should never have ended up on death row in the first place. It is abhorrent that a man with serious mental health problems could be executed for writing letters.
Mr Cameron has also said contacts were being made at "the highest level" to try to resolve the situation - we look forward to hearing positive news. Mr Asghar must be freed.
Siobhan Reardon,
Programme Director, Amnesty International - Scotland,
St Andrew Square,
Edinburgh.
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