Praying for a pardon: Pakistani Christian is sentenced to death for blaspheming against Islam In November, a Pakistan woman was sentenced to death after being found guilty of blasphemy against Islam. Pressure groups say if executed, she'll be the first woman to be hanged for breaking the controversial law. Some critics of the law also say it's being abused to persecute non-Muslims, who make up just three percent of Pakistan's 167 million population.