The Persecution Of Faith: Afghanistan's Silent Crisis

Christians in Afghanistan are persecuted and face violence from the Taliban, as well as from their families, friends, and communities. They are forced to keep their faith hidden and worship in secret, as converting from Islam is considered shameful and punishable by death under Sharia Law. The exact number of Christians in Afghanistan is unknown, but it is estimated to be in the thousands. They are unable to worship openly and must practice their faith in secret, often in small groups in homes or other small venues. Afghan Christians face the risk of death, torture, kidnapping, and detention if their faith is discovered. They are also targeted by extremist groups such as the Taliban and ISIS. The situation has become even more dangerous for Christians under the Taliban regime, which has tried to portray itself as more moderate than its previous rule in the 1990s.

The Taliban's treatment of Christians

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they pledged to recognize more freedoms than in the past. However, this has not been the case. Christians in Afghanistan, almost all of whom are converts from Islam, must keep their faith secret or face dire consequences, including disownment, torture, being forcibly sent to a psychiatric hospital, or even death.

The Taliban are working to completely erase Christianity and other religious minorities from the country, even falsely stating that there are no Christians in Afghanistan. Christians have gone underground to avoid being kidnapped by the Taliban "courts". The Taliban are also attempting to cut contact between Afghan citizens and any Western groups and have practically eradicated on-the-ground relief efforts by NGOs.

The treatment of Christians in Afghanistan by the Taliban has been described as worse than that of other religious minorities. Unlike Hindus and Sikhs, the Taliban regard Christians as apostate Muslims. Historically, Afghan criminal code has required that apostates be punished according to Sharia law, by either imprisonment or execution.

The exact number of Christians remaining in Afghanistan is unknown, but estimates range from 10,000 to 20,000. The Taliban claim that there are no Christians in the country, but the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom estimated the Christian population to be between 10,000 and 12,000 as of January 2022.

Christians in Afghanistan face regular raids on their homes by the Taliban, frequent threats against their jobs and families, and a lack of access to educational opportunities. They also face extreme danger, with some sources reporting that Christians are being hunted down and killed. The Taliban have also been working to track down known Christians, with some local church leaders counseling their communities to stay inside their homes.

The situation for Christians in Afghanistan is dire, with those remaining in the country forced to hide their faith or risk violent persecution and death at the hands of the Taliban.

The persecution of Christians in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Christian population is estimated to be in the thousands, with some sources giving a range of 10,000 to 12,000. The vast majority are converts from Islam, and due to the danger they face, they are forced to keep their faith hidden.

It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in Afghanistan. Leaving Islam is considered shameful, and those who convert to Christianity face serious consequences if discovered, including death. This was true before the Taliban takeover, but the situation has become even more dangerous under their rule. The Taliban ensures that Islamic rules and customs are implemented and kept, and converts have no choice but to obey. If a Christian's faith is discovered, their family or community may disown or kill them to save their honour, and this is widely considered justice. Leaving Islam is also considered a sign of insanity, so converts may find themselves forcibly confined in a psychiatric hospital.

Christians in Afghanistan cannot worship openly and must do so in homes or other small venues. Evangelism is forbidden, and Christians must be highly secretive about their faith. Beatings, torture and kidnappings are routine for Christians in Afghanistan, and a small number are martyred each year, although their deaths generally occur without public knowledge. Christian converts from Islam are often killed by family members or other radicalised Muslims before any legal proceedings can begin.

The Taliban controls every aspect of government, including owning documentation that may help identify Christians. They are reportedly working to track down known Christians, and some local church leaders are counselling their communities to stay inside their homes, even though they know that the best and perhaps only long-term hope is to flee the country. Christians are also escaping to the hills in an attempt to find safety. Christians with children fear the Taliban's plans to "'eradicate the ignorance of irreligion' by taking non-Muslim women and girls as sex slaves and forcing boys to serve as soldiers.

The memories of public executions, floggings, and amputations of Christians and other religious minorities under the Taliban's previous rule remain vivid. There is no clear plan from the United States or other countries to evacuate Afghan Christians, and without passports, it is unclear whether any foreign country would accept them.

The number of Christians in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with 90% of the population following Sunni Islam, and 10% practising Shia Islam. The remaining 0.3% follow other religions, including Christianity.

The majority of Christians in Afghanistan are converts from Islam, and they face extreme persecution. Christians cannot live openly in Afghanistan and must keep their faith secret or risk severe punishment, including death. Converting from Islam is considered shameful, and those who are discovered are often killed by their family or tribe to save their honour. Christians are also at risk of being detained and tortured by the Taliban, who control every aspect of government and claim that there are no Christians remaining in Afghanistan.

The Christian community in Afghanistan is largely underground, with no public churches in the country. Christians practise their faith in private homes or in small congregations. The complete Bible is available online in Pashto, and there are underground networks that distribute physical Bibles.

The situation for Christians in Afghanistan has become increasingly dangerous since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Many Christians have fled the country, while those who remain live in constant fear of exposure.

The history of Christianity in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has a rich history of religious diversity, with many civilisations travelling through and settling in the country, bringing with them a multitude of beliefs and traditions. Afghanistan has had connections with seven major religions, including Christianity.

Christianity is believed to have been brought to the region by the Apostle Thomas in the second century AD. The Book of the Laws of Countries, one of the oldest documents of Syriac literature related to Christianity in Central Asia, reports that before the end of the Parthian dynasty in 224 AD, Christianity had spread to the steppes of Central Asia, including the northern area of what is now Afghanistan.

However, subsequent Muslim and Mongol conquests at the end of the first millennium diminished the influence of the Christian church in the region. The post-Soviet rise of extremist Islamic governments, such as the Taliban, has further marginalised Christian communities in Afghanistan. The Afghan government does not recognise any of its nationals as non-Muslims and does not recognise confessions other than Islamic ones. The constitution states that Islam is the state religion, and apostasy, or the renunciation of Islam, is punishable by death. As a result, Christians in Afghanistan must conceal their faith in public to avoid severe punishment and discrimination.

Despite the risks, some Afghans continue to practice Christianity in secret. There are believed to be a small number of underground churches operating in the country, and some sources estimate that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 Christians in Afghanistan. However, the lack of public churches and the necessity for Christians to practice in private make it difficult to obtain accurate estimates of the Christian population in the country.

The future of Afghan Christians

Afghanistan has been a hostile place for Christians for a long time, and the Taliban's takeover in 2021 has only made the situation worse. Christians in Afghanistan, who number in the thousands, are forced to keep their faith hidden and practice in secret due to the threat of persecution and death. The Taliban falsely claims that there are "no Christians" in the country, and those who are discovered face torture, imprisonment, or death. Many Christians have fled the country, while those who remain are in constant danger.

The future for Afghan Christians looks bleak, with the Taliban working to completely erase Christianity and other religious minorities from the country. Christians face regular raids on their homes, threats against their jobs and families, and a lack of access to education. The Taliban is also attempting to cut contact between Afghan citizens and Western groups, making it difficult for aid organizations to provide relief efforts. In addition, the Taliban is offering financial compensation to anyone who reports on Christians, further increasing the danger for those who remain in the country.

However, despite the Taliban's efforts, the gospel still finds an audience in Afghanistan, especially in the rural mountainous regions. There are secret prayer meetings and teaching sessions, and Afghan Christians are reaching out to their Muslim neighbors, sharing the gospel, and making regular trips to remote villages to preach and mentor new converts. The increasing poverty, brutality, and repression of civil liberties under the Taliban have left many Afghan Muslims dissatisfied with their religion, leaving them open to the message of Christianity.

The international community has imposed heavy economic sanctions on Afghanistan, but there has been a lack of clear and coordinated action to address the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. While no government has officially recognized the Taliban, 30 countries have engaged in diplomatic talks with them. Some countries, such as Turkey, Pakistan, China, and Russia, have even expressed support for the regime.

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