Qamar David

{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} '''Qamar David''' ({{langx|pa|قمر ڈیوڈ}} <small>(Shahmukhi)</small>) was a Pakistani Christian convicted of blasphemy who died on 15 March 2011, in a jail in Karachi, Pakistan.<ref name="bbc20110315">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12749349|title=Pakistan Christian's death 'not due to natural causes'|date=15 March 2011|work=BBC|access-date=19 March 2011}}</ref><ref name="guardian20110316">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/16/christian-accused-blasphemy-dies-pakistan|title=Christian accused of blasphemy dies in Pakistan jail|date=16 March 2011|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 March 2011}}</ref>

==Background== Originally from Hamza, in the Pakistani province of Punjab,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Karachi:-Christian-jailed-for-blasphemy-dies-in-suspicious-circumstances,-say-activists-21037.html|title=Christian jailed for blasphemy dies in suspicious circumstances, say activists|last=Khan|first=Jibran|date=15 March 2011|publisher=AsiaNews|language=en|access-date=23 July 2015}}</ref> David was a supplier of cosmetics to shops in Karachi.<ref name="bbc20110315"/> He was arrested in 2006 for allegedly insulting Muhammad in a text message to a business rival.<ref name="ET20110316">{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/133222/blasphemy-convicts-death-in-jail-sparks-suspicion/|title=Blasphemy convict's death in jail sparks suspicion|last=Khan|first=Faraz|date=16 March 2011|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=19 March 2011}}</ref> His lawyers stated that the charges were pushed by rival businessmen. He was convicted in February 2010 by a court in Karachi and sentenced to life in prison.<ref name="guardian20110316"/> While in prison David had written twice to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a rights NGO, expressing fear for his life and for his family's safety. He also accused the police of torturing him.<ref name="HT20110318">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/pakistan/Blasphemy-convict-s-death-in-jail-raises-suspicion/Article1-674808.aspx|title=Blasphemy convict's death in jail raises suspicion|date=18 March 2011|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=19 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321021228/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/pakistan/Blasphemy-convict-s-death-in-jail-raises-suspicion/Article1-674808.aspx|archive-date=21 March 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Death== David, 57, died on 15 March 2011 after complaining of chest pain.<ref name="dawn20110316">{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/613409/blasphemy-convict-dies-in-prison|title=Blasphemy convict dies in prison|date=16 March 2011|work=Dawn|access-date=19 March 2011}}</ref> Prison officials stated that he died a natural death and foul play was ruled out. However, David's lawyer Aslam Chaudhry stated that his client was healthy and expressed concerns that David was murdered.<ref name="guardian20110316"/> Andrew Johnston of Christian Solidarity Worldwide called for an independent investigation of the death.<ref name="guardian20110316"/> An autopsy was performed on 16 March 2011 by doctors whose initial assessment was that he died of a heart attack. However, histopathology reports were expected to take several days.<ref name="ET20110317">{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/133577/qamar-davids-case-nervous-doctors-perform-blasphemy-convicts-autopsy/|title=Qamar David's case: Nervous doctors perform blasphemy convict's autopsy|last=Khan|first=Faraz|date=17 March 2011|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=19 March 2011}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:David, Qamar}} Category:2011 deaths Category:Prisoners who died in Pakistani detention Category:Pakistani Christians Category:People convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan Category:Year of birth missing Category:People from Karachi Category:Place of birth missing