The Associated Press
Thursday, July 18, 2002; 8:40 AM

LAHORE, Pakistan –– A Pakistani Christian who claimed he was Jesus Christ and called Islam a fake religion was convicted of blasphemy on Thursday and sentenced to death by hanging, court officials said.

The verdict against Anwar Keneth, 40, a former government official, drew criticism from the nation's Christian Liberation Front, which lobbies for the interests of the small Christian community.

"We think justice has not been done in the case of Anwar Keneth," Khalid Gill, a leader and spokesman for the group, told The Associated Press. "Keneth should have been treated at a mental hospital."

Keneth was arrested a year ago in the eastern city of Lahore for violating Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws after he addressed a letter to a local imam and others stating that Islam was a fake religion. He also claimed in the letter to be Christ.

Keneth, who was born a Christian, has been jailed since his arrest. He confessed to the charges on July 8, according to court documents.

Minorities in Pakistan have been demanding the repeal of blasphemy laws, under which scores of people are arrested every year.

About 97 percent of Pakistan's 145 million people are Muslim. Christians constitute a small portion of the remaining 3 percent, along with Hindus and Sikhs.

Under Pakistani law, only the word of a Muslim accuser is needed to prosecute a non-Muslim on blasphemy charges, which can carry the death penalty upon conviction.

© 2002 The Associated Press
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2002Jul18.html

Good thing they will hang him.. the imposter.. for everyone KNOWS that I AM Evyl JEBUS!!


hehe.. i can be hanged for saying that? hehe

islam=peace?

wow.. those peaceful tolerant muslims.. arent they great?

hmm.. maybe they should have crucified him.

wouldn't it be funny if he was jesus? what would happen to the whole bible prophecies than?

I imagine the Christian God would rain fire upon the world. Basically, throw the usual kind of tantrum.

*hangs garg*

Ummm..... he must be jeebus.... he aint dying.... someone poke him....

*pokes him* but seriously...god didn't do anything the first time they killed christ...why would he interfere now? and who'll stop the antichrist?

Once is a mistake, twice is just taking the piss.

Sounds to me like these two faiths were made for each other! Maybe if we're lucky they'll wipe each other out.

That's a bit sick. More than just a bit, actually. It's true that the Middle-Eastern Islamic countries are quite violent and barbaric in some cases, but it's a bit of an unfair generalization the way everyone thinks that means all Islamic countries are like that- the far Eastern and Western countries, like Bengladesh and Tunisia, are actually quite advanced socially.

funny thing is some of the oldest cities are found in that area...but strangely enough some of the oldest man/ape remains are most common in africa...

3% of 145 millions...that's quite a few people...

True... places like Jordan and Turkey atleast..

You know that during the middle ages there were people saying that christianity equaled peace, when reality was showing otherwise. Both and probably all religions can be used for peace or hate. I think they make it very easy to be used for the latter, but given enough time and pressure from good humanists and civil rights activists, Islam will settle down, too.