The Persecution Crisis: Afghanistan's Hidden Horror

There is no evidence to support the claim that Christian missionaries are being put to death in Afghanistan. The claim is a hoax that has been circulating on social media since 2009. While there have been no recent reports of Taliban fighters executing Christian missionaries, Afghanistan is considered one of the world's most dangerous places for Christians. The Taliban's return to power in 2021 has made the situation more precarious, and Christians in the country live in fear of exposure and persecution.

A hoax about Christian missionaries being sentenced to death in Afghanistan has been circulating since 2009

The original hoax, which first appeared in 2009, stated that 22 Christian missionaries were about to be executed by Islamists in Afghanistan. Over time, the number in the claim has varied, with some versions stating that 229 missionaries were at risk of execution. The message typically mentions that the missionaries will be sentenced to death "tomorrow afternoon", encouraging people to share the message quickly.

The hoax has spread via social media, text messages, and emails, often accompanied by a graphic image of an execution. While the image is claimed to show the killing of a Christian missionary in Afghanistan, it actually depicts an execution carried out by the Islamic State group in Iraq in 2015.

The hoax appears to be based on a 2007 incident in which 23 South Korean missionaries were kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban. Two of the hostages were killed, while the rest were eventually released.

Despite the hoax, the situation for Christians in Afghanistan is precarious. Missionary work is illegal, and there have been cases of the Taliban killing people accused of working as Christian missionaries. Christians in Afghanistan must practice their faith in secret, and those who are exposed risk being charged with apostasy, which is punishable by death or imprisonment.

There is a small Christian minority in Afghanistan that practices in secret

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with most citizens following Sunni Islam. However, there is a small Christian minority in Afghanistan, estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000 people. Almost all Afghan Christians are converts from Islam.

Christianity is practiced in secret in Afghanistan. It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in the country, and those who leave Islam are considered shameful. Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered, including death. As such, Christians in Afghanistan must either flee the country or practice their religion in hiding.

The situation has become even more dangerous for Christians since the Taliban takeover in 2021. The Taliban is going door-to-door to find those who collaborated with the West, as well as homosexuals and non-Muslims. The Taliban has also falsely claimed that there are "no Christians" left in Afghanistan.

Historically, Afghanistan has had a small Christian community. In the 1970s, it is estimated that there were around 500,000 Sikhs and 200,000 Hindus in the country. However, the Christian population has always been small, with only a few hundred Ahmadiyya Muslims and no Jews.

The risk of discovery of Afghanistan's Christian minority has increased since the Taliban takeover, as the Taliban controls every aspect of the government, including documentation that may help identify Christians. Christian persecution has increased across the region, and Afghanistan was ranked number one on Open Doors' 2022 World Watch List of countries where Christians face extreme persecution.

Converting to Christianity in Afghanistan is punishable by death

Afghanistan's laws on conversion to Christianity

Apostasy, or the renunciation of Islam, is a crime under Islamic law, or Sharia. Afghanistan's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but also states that no law can be contrary to Islamic principles. Article 130 of the Afghan Constitution requires its courts to apply provisions of Hanafi Sunni fiqh for crimes of apostasy in Islam. Hanafi jurisprudence, per consensus of its school of Islamic scholars, prescribes the death penalty for the crime of apostasy.

The case of Abdul Rahman

In March 2006, a 41-year-old Afghan man named Abdul Rahman was sentenced to death for converting to Christianity. Rahman had converted to Christianity in 1990 while living in Germany, but his conversion was only revealed during a custody battle in Afghanistan. Rahman was unrepentant, stating, "They want to sentence me to death, and I accept it, but I am not a deserter and not an infidel; I am a Christian, which means I believe in the trinity."

International response

Rahman's case sparked international protest from Western countries. President Bush issued a forceful response, stating, "We have got influence in Afghanistan, and we are going to use it to remind them that there are universal values. It is deeply troubling that a country we helped liberate would hold a person to account because they chose a particular religion over another."

Outcome of the case

Rahman was released and left the country after the Italian government offered him political asylum. Charges against him were dismissed on the grounds of being mentally unfit to stand trial, which is an exemption from execution under Sharia law.

Other cases

There have been several other cases of Afghans being arrested, imprisoned, or threatened with death for converting to Christianity or renouncing Islam. In 2010, an Afghan man named Shoaib Assadullah was arrested for "allegedly giving a copy of a Bible to a friend." He was released in 2011 and left Afghanistan. In 2014, a Christian family in Afghanistan appealed to Pope Francis for help fleeing persecution.

The Taliban's impact

The Taliban's return to power in 2021 has led to fears of increased persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. The Taliban governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and imposed extreme punishments, including public executions. During this time, Supreme Leader Mullah Omar ordered churches razed and Christians killed or imprisoned. The Taliban has also claimed responsibility for a slew of killings targeting Christians and missionaries.

Current situation for Christians in Afghanistan

According to the U.S. Department of State's 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom, Christians in Afghanistan live in constant fear of exposure and are reluctant to reveal their religious identities. Converting others to Christianity is illegal, and such acts are punishable by death unless the convert expresses remorse. There is little evidence from case law, with only one case having been brought before Afghan courts after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.

Christians in Afghanistan are at risk of honour killings by their own families

Christians in Afghanistan are at constant risk of honour killings by their own families. The country is predominantly Muslim, and conversion from Islam to Christianity is considered apostasy, which is punishable by death, imprisonment, or confiscation of property. This has resulted in Christians living in fear and secrecy, even from their own families.

The situation has become even more dangerous for Christians since the Taliban takeover in 2021. The Taliban has been known to go door-to-door to find and punish those who collaborated with the West, as well as non-Muslims. While the Taliban falsely claims that there are "no Christians" left in Afghanistan, the reality is that Christians are being forced deeper underground, making it difficult to know their exact numbers.

Before the Taliban takeover, there were already severe consequences for those who converted to Christianity. Converts risked losing their jobs, education, custody of their children, possessions, and even their lives. Additionally, they faced ostracization and the threat of honour killings by their families and communities.

With the Taliban in power, the situation has worsened. The Taliban has made it clear that their plan is the elimination of Christianity, and they have resorted to threats of imprisonment and execution against Christians. They have also warned that they will kill the entire family of those who leave Islam.

As a result, Christians often find themselves unwelcome in their own families and villages, unable to work or provide for themselves. They may even be cast out by their families to avoid bringing trouble. In a communal society like Afghanistan, this exile within one's village or town is a brutal punishment.

The fear of persecution is not unfounded, as there have been instances of Christians being killed by their own families. Additionally, the Taliban has been known to kill those accused of working as Christian missionaries.

The extreme persecution faced by Christians in Afghanistan has led to many fleeing the country, while those who remain live in constant fear, even from their own families.

The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan could lead to increased persecution of Christians

The Taliban has a history of persecuting Christians dating back to the mid-1990s when they first came to power. During this time, Supreme Leader Mullah Omar ordered churches razed and Christians killed or imprisoned. After the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and the Taliban were ousted, they claimed responsibility for a slew of killings targeting Christians and missionaries.

When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, they pledged to recognize more freedoms than in the past. However, this does not appear to have been the case, especially for religious minorities like Christians. The Taliban falsely claims that there are no Christians in Afghanistan and has been working to completely erase Christianity from the country. They have been checking phones for Bibles and conducting door-to-door manhunts to weed out "unwanted elements," which include Christians.

Christians in Afghanistan, who number in the thousands, are mostly converts from Islam and face intense governmental and societal pressure and scrutiny. They endure regular raids on their homes, frequent threats against their jobs and families, and a lack of access to education. They are also at risk of honour killings by their own family members. The surrounding society and family structure has no tolerance for religious freedom, and the government upholds this rigid stance. This means that Christians must keep their faith a secret or risk a death sentence or torture.

The situation has become so dire that many Christians have fled the country, often living in poor conditions in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. Those who have stayed are forced to live, work, and identify as Muslims, keeping their faith a secret.

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