Five people in Pakistan have been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging over the brutal 'brick kiln' murders of Shahzad and Shama Bibi in Pakistan more than two years ago.
The two illiterate Christians were seized by a mob and burned to death in the brick kiln where they worked in Kot Radha Kishen near Lahore.
They were falsely accused of desecrating pages of the Quran when they disposed of some rubbish.
The mob of about 3,000 people decided to exact its own revenge without recourse to Pakistan's brutal blasphemy laws. The mob beat them savagely before throwing their battered bodies in the kiln furnace.
It was later suggested that there could have been a financial motive for their killing.
The deaths of the couple, who were married and expecting their fourth child, caused international outrage.
Originally, 106 people were charged with murder but soon after that 90 were acquitted, including the owner of the brick kiln.
The couple's eldest son Suleman, just six at the time, described in television interviews after the attack how he saw his mother and father twitching in the flames of the fire that slowly consumed them.
The British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) said: "His chilling words, that should never have been aired, give the impression the couple were still alive as they burned."
According to Riaz Anjum, the lawyer representing the family, the couple had been locked in a room after they asked to leave the premises to escape a mob worked up by the blasphmey allegation.
The Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore has now convicted five men to death by hanging and imposed large fines which will have to be paid by their families. Eight others involved in the burnings have been sentenced to two years in jail.
Anjum said: "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 judgement."
Mukhtar Masih, father of Shama Masih, said: "We were unable today to attend the court today due to the risk to our safety. I am disappointed with today's result as my eldest daughter Yasmeen, who saw the whole incident, witnessed at least 15 men involved in the brutal violence against my daughter Shama and her husband Shahzad. Only five of those men have been convicted with a death sentence yet the others poured kerosene over Shama and Shahzad and were also violent. Two years imprisonment for those who were involved in a lesser capacity for a crime that led to two deaths seems to lenient."
He said his life and those of the children, Suleman, Sonia and Poonam, had been devastated. "We are now starting to receive death threats from all the families of those accused and fear for our lives. This small justice could still end up costing us even more."
Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the BPCA, said: "These convictions are a watershed moment for the Pakistani Christians. It is rare for perpetrators of violence against Christians to receive a conviction, for the sentencing to be so strong in this court case sends out a firm message that violence will be met with the full weight of the law. The perceived impunity for mob attacks on Christians has been countered and now hopefully will reduce such crime.
"The family of Shama and Shahzad now need a time for solace and healing. The ongoing case and the constant death threats on the family have had a heavvy toll on the surviving children. They often question why they and their parents were hated so much and Suleman is showing signs of post-traumatic stress. The government of Pakistan must ensure that they work with us and other groups to ensure the protection of this family which is now of paramount importance. Quite frankly the family have suffered enough."
Thanks to donations, the association has been able to repaint the family's home and buy the children comfortable beds, other furniture, and school supplies. However, they may all have to be relocated soon because of death threats.
"We are committed to Shama and Shahzad's children and we will continue to do all that we can to provide for them but we need your help to do it," said Chowdhry. "Please give what you can afford, no matter how small, and join with us in showing them the daily love and care that they need."
