Christian Mother Arrested in Pakistan

A judge rejected bail last month for a 28-year-old Christian mother, Stella Khawar, arrested on false blasphemy charges that could mean up to 17 years in prison.

“After the August 16, 2023 attacks on churches and homes of Christians in Jaranwala, there have been three or four incidents in our village in which blasphemous content was found written on currency notes and other material,” Stella’s husband, Khawar Shahzad told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “This caused a lot of tension in our locality, but no one knew who was behind these actions.”

Stella is accused of two separate blasphemy charges, one in August and one in January, both registered by a local Muslim leader, Syed Jawad Ali, who claims that unknown people scattered blasphemous content in the village with the purpose of causing religious tension between Muslims and Christians.

Khawar said the latest incident happened May 10, when someone found such content written on a piece of paper. But rather than registering a new report, police named Stella in the August and January reports previously registered against “unknown persons.”

“We were at my in-laws’ house on May 12 when police came and took Stella into custody,” Khawar said. “They claimed that they had ‘concrete’ evidence that she was responsible for the incidents of alleged blasphemy. We were dumbfounded by the allegation, but there was nothing we could do to stop the police from taking Stella with them.”

The Shahzads and their four-year-old son attend a Pentecostal church in the area of Kotli Loharan, Punjab, where about 350 Christian families reside.

“My wife is a devout Christian, and like other members of the community, she too was very upset after the attacks in Jaranwala,” he said. “However, she never said or did anything in front of me or other family members which showed that she could be involved in any such activity.

“The lawyer says he will now file for bail in the sessions court,” Khawar continued. “I don’t know what will be the outcome due to the pressure being exerted by religious groups, but my priority right now is to keep my child safe from any harm.” (CDI-MSN, June 5)

Pakistan is home to 850 people groups, 844 of which are unreached by the gospel of Christ. Nearly 98% Muslim, the South Asian country bordering Afghanistan and India ranks seventh on Open Doors’ World Watchlist of most dangerous countries for Christians. About 75% of Pakistan’s 2.5 million Christians live in Punjab state, where they are heavily persecuted for their faith.

Lord, please be a Shield around Stella, Khawar, their son and the other believers in Kotli Loharan. Protect them from persecution and harm. Give them favor with police, judges and their Muslim neighbors. Guide their interactions within the community, and raise up witnesses who attest to their innocence and upright character. Give wisdom to Stella’s lawyer and others involved in helping her in this case. Please make the way for all charges to be dropped and Stella to return home to her family.

Awaken every heart in Punjab to Christ. Meet them in their dreams. Show them who You truly are. Begin with Syed and the police who are bringing these accusations, the judge and anyone else involved in this case. Begin with those who have hated Stella and her family simply because they are Christians. Show Muslims the way of salvation so clearly the chains which have held them to false religion, hatred and evil acts will be broken, and they will surrender at last to the One who created them for Love.

Bring forth a mighty movement of Your Spirit among the Christians of Pakistan, especially in Punjab. Draw them into fervent prayer and Bible study. When they seek You, answer in powerful ways. We ask You for signs and wonders and miracles. Heal the sick, raise the dead, make the lame walk, multiply the resources of the needy and poor. Bring hope in the midst of misery and fear. Cut through the harshness of their lives with the love, peace and joy of Your felt presence. Galatians 5:22-25. Give them songs of joy to sing in worship to You. Draw them together to pray for each other and encourage one another. Open up Your Word to speak into their circumstances in such powerful ways they will leap with joy to obey You, to follow Your Spirit’s lead every moment, to share with the lost, to be lights for You in the midst of such darkness. And bring about a great movement of Muslims who once hated them to now surrender to Christ with open arms. For every Christian persecuted, we ask You, Lord, for 1,000 Muslims to come to faith. For every hateful act against those who bear Your name, Jesus, we ask You for rivers of forgiveness, love and grace to flow so freely the lost will have no excuse left; they will see the power of the One who is Love, they will see the difference You make in the lives of these Christians, and they will jump into the depths of Your Living Water to never thirst again.

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