LAHORE, Pakistan — Two years after a Muslim mob burned a Christian couple to death in a brick kiln, a Pakistani court has sentenced five men to death for the murders.
The couple, 26-year-old Shahzad Masih and his pregnant wife, Shama, were falsely accused of desecrating a copy of the Quran in 2014, according to The Christian Post.
A mob of believed hundreds of Muslims took part in the crime, and at least 103 were arrested and charged, according to the Post.
But the court acquitted 90 on Nov. 23, including the owner of the kiln and the man accused of being behind the claim that the couple desecrated the Muslim holy book.
Eight others were given two-year prison sentences for their part in the murders.
A date has not yet been set for the death sentence of the five.
“The five people awarded the death sentence were involved in dragging, beating and burning the couple while the other eight played a supportive role, according to the judgment,” said Riaz Anjum, the lawyer representing the victims’ family, according to The Express Tribune. (TAB)
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