Christian Couple under House Arrest in Srinagar, India
by Staff
April 11, 2008
(christiansunite.com) - Peerzada Shakeel, a convert to Christianity from Islam was arrested along with his wife, Arifa, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on charges of forcible conversion on March 26, according to a March 31 report from Compass Direct. On March 21, local Muslims broke into Shakeel's house and beat him. They dragged him to a mosque where they beat him again when he told them he would worship only Christ. Shakeel's father, a local mosque member, then brought false charges of forced conversions against him because he refused to deny Christ.
Shakeel and his wife were arrested and taken to a police station at Sonwar, Srinagar. Although the couple was released on bail the following day, they remain under house arrest. Shakeel has faced severe opposition from his family and community since he became a Christian in 2006.
Pray that Shakeel and Arifa will not give in to fear but be enabled by God to stand in His grace and remain faithful in the face of societal rejection and hostility for their Christian faith (1 Peter 5:10-12).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to www.persecution.net/country/india.htm.
