The Problem

Afghanistan

Leader: President Ashraf Ghani
Population: 36.4 million (Thousands of Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Islamic republic
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism/Ethnic antagonism
World Watch List Rank: 2

“I have seven children. One of them was disabled and could not walk. When I brought the New Testament into my house, my daughter started to move. I began to read from the Bible and she started to walk!”
Saif, a secret believer in Afghanistan

The basics

It is illegal for an Afghan person to be anything other than a Muslim. Discovered believers will sometimes be sent to a mental hospital, as families believe no sane person would leave Islam. Baptism is a crime punishable by death; several believers were killed in 2016 when their faith was discovered. The Taliban, an extremist Islamist group, remains active in Afghanistan and targets those who leave Islam.

The facts

• Believers must keep their faith a secret. Most will have converted from Islam. In doing so they risk being known as traitors, facing threats, violence and worse for their choice.
• There are no public churches. Praying, singing or keeping Christian materials can be very dangerous.
• One Afghani MP has stated that all converts to Christianity should be executed.
• One of the only ways people hear the good news of Jesus is through Christian radio programmes.

Where is it?

Pray this

Father,
even though there are only a few thousand Christians in Afghanistan, You are still Lord. Like the tiny acorn that grows into the tallest of trees, use this small group of people to grow Your Kingdom. Raise faith, bring miracles and help them shine Your love and glory so others wouldn’t be able to ignore You. Strengthen them. Keep them close to You. Help them find ways to meet, pray and worship without fear. Keep them from danger, because you can.
Amen.

Other things to pray for…

• For protection for believers as Islamic extremism increases – some militants have declared allegiance to the so-called Islamic State and announced a ‘caliphate of Khorasan’ in the northwest of the country
• For wisdom for Christian parents, who do not wish to send their children to a madrassah (Islamic school) but fear being revealed if they share their faith with their children
• For comfort and strength for isolated believers.
• For change to take place within the country, and for openness to religions outside of Islam
  For stability and peace in Afghanistan.

What’s it like?

The good news: How we’re helping

In cooperation with local churches and partners, Open Doors supports the church in Afghanistan through literacy and vocational projects, emergency aid, training and trauma therapy.

Latest news and articles on Afghanistan…

Click the Afghanistan tag below for a list of the latest articles and news on the country…

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