Dear Friend,
Fear filled Sahar’s* heart as she huddled in the corner of a small street restaurant along the bustling street market in the major city of Lahore.

She and her husband had shopped at the market many times before, but this time some-thing was terribly wrong. She soon found herself surrounded by a mob of two to three hundred men who were angry at her!

SURROUNDED BY ANGER

There was no way of escape. Holding her head in her hands, fearing for her life, she strained to decipher the heated words from the mob that was now pushing its way closer to her.

Their words felt like sharp daggers to her soul. “Take off your dress!” some shouted, while others yelled, “I should have shot her!” and others, “I want to shoot her!” Meanwhile, another man screamed, “She’s committed blasphemy.” As these words filled the air, she heard the mob chanting, “Behead her,” repeated over and over.

Fortunately, several police officers arrived, preventing the mob from lynching and potentially killing her.

COURAGE ON DISPLAY

To save Sahar, a brave policewoman stepped forward to address the crowd. “We are taking the woman with us,” she said forcefully, “and we will hold her accountable for any crimes she committed.”

In a video (see below) capturing the moment, the officer wrapped her arm around Sahar, now dressed in a black kameez and golden headscarf, and led her to safety.

WHY DID THEY WANT TO KILL HER?

Apparently, Sahar had worn a stylish dress with Arabic writing. Men in the market mistakenly thought the dress contained verses from the Qur’an, which could be considered blasphemous.

Later, the writing on her dress was found to be the Arabic word “Halwa,” meaning “beautiful.” Police rescued the woman, but the incident underscored the heightened sensitivity around blasphemy in Pakistan, where it is considered a serious offence.

At the police station, Sahar, still in police custody, was then made to apologize for wearing such a dress to the very same Islamists who had accused her of blasphemy and wanted to behead her. 

THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE IN THE DARKNESS

In this challenging environment, AsiaLink’s women’s ministry understands the struggles faced by women like Sahar. Women in this Muslim culture often feel misunderstood, judged, condemned, and voiceless. Our ministry passionately shares the empowering message of Jesus Christ through our Women’s Empowerment Conferences, offering hope and reassurance that, in God’s eyes, women are cherished and equal to men.

Later this month, AsiaLink’s Women’s Empowerment Conference will take place, with our featured speaker a former devout Muslim. She understands the struggle and threat of living in a Muslim society where women are regularly living under oppression. She is a powerful teacher and Christian apologist.

IGNITING HOPE IN A WOMEN’S LIFE

We’ve already secured part of the budget for this incredible conference, but we still need to raise $2,700 to ensure that every woman can attend, regardless of her faith background, whether Muslim, Hindu, or of a different faith. Many of these women are very poor and need assistance. Join me in helping sponsor this powerful ministry encounter?

Your generous support has the power to ignite hope in a woman’s heart and transform her life, potentially impacting the lives of her entire family. By responding to God’s prompting, you’re not just donating; you’re offering encouragement and a brighter future for those who need it most.

As a partner of AsiaLink, we are asking 25 of our dear friends to each contribute $101.25 to help sponsor 15 women to attend the conference. Perhaps God will inspire you to sponsor even more women to attend! By partnering together, we can see God at work!  Thank you!

Yours for Asia’s Harvest,

(Rev.) Dale R. Hiscock / Executive Director

P.S.: Due to the postal strike, we highly recommend sending your gift by bank e–transfer. You can email your gift to info@asialinkministries.org or call our office at (519) 624–0223 to make a credit card donation. You can also send your donation by PalPal. You can give by Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

THANK YOU for making a lasting difference! Your generosity is changing lives!

*Not her real name