Bollywood actress Veena Malik, her husband, and a television executive were each sentenced to 26 years in prison this week for "malicious acts of blasphemy."
The Pakistani trio were involved in a mock wedding depicting the marriage of the Prophet Muhammad's daughter, which was considered offensive by government officials.
Malik and her husband, Asad Bashir Khan Khattak, portrayed the bride and groom on a segment airing on Geo TV in May. The Independent reported that similar scenes have been aired on television in the past.
Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, the network's owner, was also arrested and sentenced to 26 years as a punishment for the act airing on one of his assets.
Malik called the sentence ridiculous.
"26 years! Come on. 26 years is a lifetime," she said. "But I have faith in higher courts in Pakistan. When the final verdict comes, it will do justice to me. Nothing bad is going to happen."
The judge in the case found the sentencing appropriate considering the public's reaction to the reenacted marriage.
"The malicious acts of the proclaimed offenders ignited the sentiments of all the Muslims of the country and hurt the feelings, which cannot be taken lightly and there is need to strictly curb such tendency," a court order read.
In a large loophole, the verdict will only be enforced in Gilgit, a city shared by Pakistan and India, and not in other areas of Pakistan. However, Malik will return to court in the next two weeks to fight the charges against her.
"I have always been a person who faced troubles by looking it in the eye," she explained. "I have faced highs and lows in my life. But I am sure I haven't done anything wrong."
In addition to the jail term, the defendants were ordered to surrender their passports, sell their properties, and pay 3 million rupees, or over $12,000.
