In October 2017, three members of Pakistan’s minority Ahmadi religious community—Mubasher Ahmad, Ghulam Ahmed and Ehsan Ahmed—were sentenced to death for blasphemy. They, along with a fourth Ahmadi, Khalil Ahmed, stood accused of taking down “religious posters” that were displayed in public. The prosecution argued that they insulted Islam in doing so, while the defense maintained that the posters contained “anti-Ahmadi” language, including calling for the murder of members of the minority sect. 

“This latest case reinforces that there is no excuse for the blasphemy provisions in Article 295 of the Pakistani Penal Code to even exist.” - Daniel Mark, Chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

While the first three men received the death penalty, Khalil had already been murdered while in police custody long before the trial took place. The sentencing was met with international outcry.