Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Pakistani authorities to overturn the conviction of Junaid Hafeez, a former university lecturer sentenced to death in 2019 under the country’s blasphemy laws. HRW described Hafeez’s prolonged detention and years in solitary confinement as indicative of the “unjust and abusive nature” of Pakistan’s blasphemy framework and urged for his immediate release and a review of his conviction. ([hrw.org](https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/02/26/pakistan-quash-longstanding-blasphemy-case?utm_source=openai))
Hafeez, previously a visiting lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan, was arrested in March 2013 after being accused of making derogatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad on social media. His trial, held at Multan Central Jail due to security concerns, culminated in a death sentence in December 2019. Since mid-2014, Hafeez has reportedly been held in solitary confinement, a condition HRW considers to be cruel and inhuman treatment. ([dawn.com](https://www.dawn.com/news/1523521?utm_source=openai))
The legal proceedings have faced numerous delays. The Lahore High Court scheduled a hearing for Hafeez’s appeal in March 2025, only to remove it from the cause list a day later, further postponing judicial review. Observers have noted repeated adjournments and the challenges defense counsel face in blasphemy cases, including security threats and attacks on lawyers. ([dawn.com](https://www.dawn.com/news/1898058?utm_source=openai))
Various civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, have called for Hafeez’s release and systemic reforms to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. These groups express concerns that the laws are overly broad, frequently misused for personal vendettas, and encourage vigilante violence. ([aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/21/pakistani-academic-junaid-hafeez-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemy?utm_source=openai))
Rights groups have also urged the Pakistani government to investigate threats linked to blasphemy accusations and to implement procedural protections that were signaled for introduction in late 2025. ([hrw.org](https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/02/26/pakistan-quash-longstanding-blasphemy-case?utm_source=openai))
Hafeez’s case underscores the broader issues surrounding Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which carry severe penalties and have been criticized for their potential for misuse and the human rights concerns they raise.