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<p>We continue to monitor the case of Shagufta Kauser and her husband Shafqat Emmanuel
who were sentenced to death in April 2014. We understand that Shagufta Kauser is of
the Christian faith and we are aware of media reports stating that she and her husband
are both illiterate.</p><p>We regularly raise our concerns about the misuse of the
blasphemy laws with the government of Pakistan at a senior level. The harsh penalties
for blasphemy, including the death penalty, add to these concerns. We remain firmly
opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We have repeatedly called upon
the Government of Pakistan to end capital punishment and, as a minimum, commit to
publicly renewing the previously imposed moratorium on the death penalty. Concerns
about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities
were raised with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari,
during a ministerial visit to Islamabad in February.</p><p>We do not hold figures
for individuals on specific charges overseas. According to the US State Department
2018 Report on Freedom of Religion or Belief, at the time of publication, 77 individuals
were imprisoned in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, 28 of whom had received death sentences.</p>
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