Pakistani Christian sentenced to death for sending Islam-insulting poem via WhatsApp

‘A Pakistani Christian has been handed a death sentence for allegedly sending a poem insulting Islam, in particular Prophet Mohammed, to a Muslim friend via WhatsApp. The friend reported him to police, annoyed by the Christian man’s affair with a Muslim girl, the defendant’s lawyer said.
“[Nadeem] James was handed a death sentence by the court Thursday on blasphemy charges,” James’ defence lawyer Anjum Wakeel told AFP Friday. Wakeel said James will “appeal the sentence in the high court as he has been framed by his friend [Yasir Bashir] who was annoyed over James’ affair with a Muslim girl.”
James was held inside the prison for safety reasons as local Muslim clerics repeatedly threatened his family, the lawyer added.
The story of James from the town of Sarai Alamgir in Punjab province hit the headlines in summer 2016. James, 28, is “illiterate and works as a tailor”, according to the Rescue Christians charity group which fights persecution of Christians.’
Read more: Pakistani Christian sentenced to death for sending Islam-insulting poem via WhatsApp