Fair Trial and Immediate Release of Professor Junaid Hafeez
The Issue
I started this petition out of a deep sense of injustice and frustration. In March 2013, while teaching at the BZU University Multan in English Literature Department as a visiting lecturer, Junaid Hafeez was arrested on false blasphemy charges. The fabricated accusations were associated with students linked to Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba extremist religious group concerned with the protection of Namoos-e-Risalat but extremist targeted him over social media posts and his progressive lectures, this matter was linked to internal university politics that Hafeez was being considered for an Assistant Professor position and that certain groups wanted to prevent his promotion.
Junaid Hafeez grew up in Rajanpur, Pakistan, earned top marks in his intermediate studies, and initially attended King Edward Medical College. He left medicine to study English literature at (BZU) in Multan, breaking a 38-year scoring record with a 3.99 GPA. He was chosen studying theater, photography, and literature at Jackson State University in Mississippi as a Fulbright Scholar. After returning to Pakistan, he became a visiting lecturer in English at BZU.
After his arrest in 2013 he was placed in prolonged solitary confinement. His defense lawyer, Rashid Rehman, was threatened & murdered in his office in 2014 after taking on the case. In 2019, an anti-terrorism court sentenced him to death, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights organizations worldwide.
Hundreds of individuals find themselves ensnared by these draconian laws, facing prison, threats to their lives, and even extrajudicial killings. Most troubling is the fact that many charged are denied fair judicial hearings, an essential right in any democratic society. The blasphemy law, in its current form, is both punitive and prone to misuse without the checks and balances that should be mandated.
Compounded by his solitary confinement for over thirteen years, Professor Hafeez's health continues to deteriorate, and his prospects for a fair trial have been continually delayed.
Human Rights Lawyer Saif ul Malook Joined the legal team for Hafeez's high-court appeal, he is known for successfully defending high-profile blasphemy case of Aasia Bibi.
We collectively appeal to the judiciary and the govt & state of Pakistan for fair trail and immediate release of Professor Junaid Hafeez.
Please join me in urging for the immediate release and a fair trial for Professor Junaid Hafeez— By signing this petition, your voice joins a global chorus advocating for fairness, justice, and humanity. Sign now to make a difference. Professor Hafeez needs our support. #JusticeForJunaidHafeez
Aaliya Shah
653
The Issue
I started this petition out of a deep sense of injustice and frustration. In March 2013, while teaching at the BZU University Multan in English Literature Department as a visiting lecturer, Junaid Hafeez was arrested on false blasphemy charges. The fabricated accusations were associated with students linked to Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba extremist religious group concerned with the protection of Namoos-e-Risalat but extremist targeted him over social media posts and his progressive lectures, this matter was linked to internal university politics that Hafeez was being considered for an Assistant Professor position and that certain groups wanted to prevent his promotion.
Junaid Hafeez grew up in Rajanpur, Pakistan, earned top marks in his intermediate studies, and initially attended King Edward Medical College. He left medicine to study English literature at (BZU) in Multan, breaking a 38-year scoring record with a 3.99 GPA. He was chosen studying theater, photography, and literature at Jackson State University in Mississippi as a Fulbright Scholar. After returning to Pakistan, he became a visiting lecturer in English at BZU.
After his arrest in 2013 he was placed in prolonged solitary confinement. His defense lawyer, Rashid Rehman, was threatened & murdered in his office in 2014 after taking on the case. In 2019, an anti-terrorism court sentenced him to death, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights organizations worldwide.
Hundreds of individuals find themselves ensnared by these draconian laws, facing prison, threats to their lives, and even extrajudicial killings. Most troubling is the fact that many charged are denied fair judicial hearings, an essential right in any democratic society. The blasphemy law, in its current form, is both punitive and prone to misuse without the checks and balances that should be mandated.
Compounded by his solitary confinement for over thirteen years, Professor Hafeez's health continues to deteriorate, and his prospects for a fair trial have been continually delayed.
Human Rights Lawyer Saif ul Malook Joined the legal team for Hafeez's high-court appeal, he is known for successfully defending high-profile blasphemy case of Aasia Bibi.
We collectively appeal to the judiciary and the govt & state of Pakistan for fair trail and immediate release of Professor Junaid Hafeez.
Please join me in urging for the immediate release and a fair trial for Professor Junaid Hafeez— By signing this petition, your voice joins a global chorus advocating for fairness, justice, and humanity. Sign now to make a difference. Professor Hafeez needs our support. #JusticeForJunaidHafeez
Aaliya Shah
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Petition created on September 21, 2026