Name: Afghanistan
Source of Persecution: Islamic Oppression, Dictatorial Paranoia, Clan Oppression
Rank: #11 on the World Watch List
The dangers facing Christians cannot be overstated: Afghanistan remains a place of extreme persecution for anyone who dares to follow Jesus under the brutally oppressive rule of the Taliban.
Since the group retook power in August 2021, Christians have either fled the country or gone deeper underground. As far as the Taliban is concerned, it is not possible that any Afghan could be a Christian. Almost all believers are converts from Islam – and apostasy is considered punishable by death under Islamic law. To preserve their “honour,” families, clans and tribes feel obliged to deal harshly with those known to have turned to Christianity. Mere suspicion of conversion – such as avoiding mosque attendance – can trigger catastrophic consequences.
Given the immense risk of meeting with other believers, the Church exists only in increasingly fragmented, secretive gatherings; this makes accurate assessment of their situation difficult. Those who have fled the country or become Christians while living as refugees have slightly more freedom, but also face intense challenges, including the threat of deportation.
Generally, control and supervision in smaller, rural communities is stricter than in most cities. However, even in cities such as the capital, Kabul, there is a very high level of control and increasing CCTV surveillance, so Christians face difficulties throughout the country.
Prayer Points
- Pray for the Christians in Afghanistan who still endure after four-and-a-half years of Taliban rule. Ask God to protect His people and give them a spirit of hope and peace.
- Several neighboring nations have deported Afghan refugees. Pray for any Afghan Christian refugees who may be among this group; pray they will be protected from harm and be comforted.
- Pray that God will change the hearts of the Taliban leaders. Ask God to soften their stance toward Christians and other religious minorities and bring them the hope and joy of Christ.