Death sentence in Pakistani blasphemy case

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 19 (UPI) -- A Pakistani man, accused of blasphemy, was sentenced to death for desecrating the Koran.

Shafiq Latif was arrested in Sialkot in the Muslim country's Punjab province in March 2006 under the blasphemy act, Dawn, a Pakistani newspaper, reported. Police accused Latif of desecrating copies of the Muslim holy book.

The presiding judge in a district court in Sialkot said the verdict was based on Islamic law, the Dawn report said. Latif was sentenced to death and fined about $8,000

The report said banners and posters went up in the district welcoming the court decision.

The ruling can be appealed.