In July 2002, an officer of Pakistan’s Fisheries Department, Anwar Kenneth, was sentenced to death for blasphemy. He had been accused of distributing pamphlets, the “Gospel of Jesus,” one year earlier, a “crime” to which he confessed. He was charged and sentenced under the blasphemy law, and in addition to his death sentence, he received a fine of 500,000 rupees—about $8,300 USD at the time.

Unaddressed mental health concerns pervaded Anwar’s case. He had apparently proclaimed himself as the reincarnation of Christ and showed little distress over a possible execution, claiming he could not die. His arrest, in fact, came after he sent a letter to an imam "attacking Islam" and proclaiming himself Christ. People who knew Anwar said he suffered from a mental affliction and needed medical attention, but no mental health examination was provided. Since Anwar confessed to his deeds and refused a defense attorney, no trial was conducted, and his conviction was made on the basis of his admission of guilt.