A judge refused bail June 3 for a Christian woman jailed in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy. The woman’s husband claims the charges are false.
Stella Khawar, 28-year-old mother of a 4 year old, was arrested May 12 in Kotli Loharan in Punjab Province on charges of “hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims,” husband Khawar Shahzad told news services Christian Daily International and Morning Star News.
He explained that homes of Christians and churches in the Jaranwala area were attacked Aug. 16, 2023. Since then, materials that some consider blasphemous have periodically been found in various places. Even though no one knows who is responsible, police charged Stella Khawar for one case in August 2023 and one on Jan. 7, 2024, her husband said. Police insist they have “concrete” evidence against her.
Her husband said the complainant and others are pressuring him not to mount a defense for Stella.
The news services say Stella is charged with “intentionally outraging religious sentiments” and “intentionally causing fear in the public and harming public tranquility.”
Pakistan is No. 7 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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