The blasphemy laws in Pakistan can be used to persecute believers in Jesus, regardless of whether they have done anything wrong or not. Such was the case of Shagufta Kausar and her husband, Shafqat Emmanuel.
A muslim man received some text messages he considered blasphemous, and it was determined they came from a cell phone owned by Shagufta. But she told the authorities the phone had been lost months before. In addition, her husband, Shafqat, is illeterate and could not have sent the messages.
Despite the facts, the couple were arrested, eventually sentenced to death for blasphemy, and sent to death row to await execution. They lingered there for 7 years, appealing their conviction at every turn. (They were defended by Saiful Malook, who also succcessfully defended Asia Bibi.) At last, the Lahore High Court overturned the couple's conviction and they were released.
But they continued to receive death threats. So Shugafta and Shafqat were forced to flee Pakistan and move to a safe location in Europe. "We are so relieved to finally be free," Shafqat told Washington DC based religious advocacy organisation ADF, as quoted by CNA. "The last 8 years have been incredibly hard, but we are so happy to be reunited with our children."
Please continue to pray with Christians unjustly imprisoned and sentenced in Pakistan under this easily misused blasphemy law.
Thank God for the judge who saw the lack of evidence against Shugufta and Shefqat and overturned the conviction.
Pray for Shugafta and Shafqat as they adjust to their new life and to settle into a community of faith where they have relocated, sharing their story and miraculous release.
Ask God to open the eyes of more Pakistanis to the unjust accusations and misuse of the law in imprisoning Christians, and to open the prison doors for believers.
Thank you so much for praying, God bless. From a Open Doors USA text alert
A muslim man received some text messages he considered blasphemous, and it was determined they came from a cell phone owned by Shagufta. But she told the authorities the phone had been lost months before. In addition, her husband, Shafqat, is illeterate and could not have sent the messages.
Despite the facts, the couple were arrested, eventually sentenced to death for blasphemy, and sent to death row to await execution. They lingered there for 7 years, appealing their conviction at every turn. (They were defended by Saiful Malook, who also succcessfully defended Asia Bibi.) At last, the Lahore High Court overturned the couple's conviction and they were released.
But they continued to receive death threats. So Shugafta and Shafqat were forced to flee Pakistan and move to a safe location in Europe. "We are so relieved to finally be free," Shafqat told Washington DC based religious advocacy organisation ADF, as quoted by CNA. "The last 8 years have been incredibly hard, but we are so happy to be reunited with our children."
Please continue to pray with Christians unjustly imprisoned and sentenced in Pakistan under this easily misused blasphemy law.
Thank God for the judge who saw the lack of evidence against Shugufta and Shefqat and overturned the conviction.
Pray for Shugafta and Shafqat as they adjust to their new life and to settle into a community of faith where they have relocated, sharing their story and miraculous release.
Ask God to open the eyes of more Pakistanis to the unjust accusations and misuse of the law in imprisoning Christians, and to open the prison doors for believers.
Thank you so much for praying, God bless. From a Open Doors USA text alert