AMNESTY International Scotland called yesterday for the release of Mohammad Ashgar, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan despite being diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

Amnesty International Scotland programme director Siobhan Reardon appealed for members of the public to write to the British government and the authorities in Pakistan to take action in the case.

“Mohammad Asghar should never have been sentenced to death for writing letters — he should be released immediately and his sentence quashed,” Ms Reardon said.

Last month Mr Asghar, who has paranoid schizophrenia, was shot and wounded by a guard at the Rawalpindi prison where he was being held.

Mr Ashgar, whose family home is in Edinburgh, has been in intensive care in hospital since the shooting.

Ms Reardon said: “Mohammad is in mortal danger every day he remains on death row and we are urging the UK government to step up efforts to get him out of prison and into a place of safety.” 

The appeal at www.amnesty.org.uk/pakistan was launched on World Day against the Death Penalty.