Afghanistan--Christian Persecution in Afghanistan

Middle East: Afghanistan Country Report Last Updated: March 2002 Code: A-1,2,3 (Click here for a code description.)
	(Click here for a list of ICC articles on Afghanistan.) List of Articles Last Updated: May 12, 2003

Religious Atmosphere: Almost all people in this country are Muslims. They are members of the Sunni (73%) and Shi'ite (27%) branches of Islam. Most of the Christians in the country are expatriates.

Extremist Groups:

• Taliban – Remnants of the radical Islamic group still remain in the country.

Government:

• An interim government is currently in place. More specifics will be reported as details are known.

Recent Actions:
  

• November 15, 2001 – Following the Taliban retreat from the city of Kandahar, Alliance soldiers rescued 8 foreign aid workers and 16 Afghan co-workers from their cells.   (Compass)
        
• October 10, 2001 – Pakistani lawyer Atif Ali Khan appeared in Afghanistan, after a stay in Islamabad to compile legal research.  He is covering the trial of 8 foreign aid workers accused of proselytizing Christianity in Kabul.  Peter Brunch and Diana Thomas are from Australia, Goerg Taubmann, Katrin Jelinek, Margrit Stebner and Silke Durrkopf from Germany, and Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry from the United States were staff of the German-based relief group Shelter Now.  (Compass)
    
• October 2001 – The Taliban is quickly removing all resistance against Islam.    Christian-based NGO’s (non-governmental oraganizations) are closing throughout Afghanistan.  Many NGO’s fear their lives from the oppresive Taliban regime. The following NGO’s have been shut down: Shelter Now Afghanistan, International Assistance Mission and Serve, and Partners in Aviation and Communications Technology.   The organizations provide relief to the tens of thousands of refugees in the suffering country.  The United Nations Food Program expressed concern that Afghanistan will suffer more than ever because of the crack down against Christianity.
         
• September 30, 2001 – The trial of 8 foreign aid workers accused of proselytizing Christianity resumed on September 30, 2001, in the Afghanistan capital Kabul.
         

• September 10, 2001 – The Taliban arrested 35 Afghan IAM workers (International Assistance Mission) when they arrived at the Planning Ministry office in Kabul to receive their salary check.
       

• September 9, 2001 – Twelve foreign journalists covering the trial of the 8 aid workers from Shelter Now Afghanistan were detained in their hotel rooms, and refused exit.  The Taliban searched the rooms for cameras, film and videos.  Taliban authorities stated the journalists were being punished for taking photographs of the foreign defendants in court. Several of the Afghan interpreters for the journalists were also detained, for failure to halt the journalists.
    

• September 7, 2001 – During a sermon in Kabul’s Pul-e-Khishti mosque, Chief Justice Saqib stated, “Friendship with infidels is forbidden.”  He warned the congregation to keep distance from non-Muslim “infidels,” and stated “infidels” were evil and trying to destroy their faith.
       

• September 4, 2001 – A closed-door trial in the Afghan capital Kabul began to try eight foreign aid workers accused of spreading Christianity. Taliban Chief Justice Noor Mohammed Saqib said the trial would be resolved in accordance with Islamic Shari’a Law.  The trial of the two Americans, two Australians and four Germans is expected to last several days.
    

• August 6, 2001 – Taliban authorities arrested 24 staff members of Shelter Now International (SNI), including 8 foreigners, for proselytizing Christianity in the city of Kabul.  The Taliban soldiers also arrested 65 children working for SNI who are being detained at Darul Tadeeb.  SNI provides humanitarian assistance to the Afghans.
    
• May 2001 – The Taliban announced that it is implementing a law requiring all Hindus to identify themselves by wearing yellow and placing yellow flags outside of their homes. Taliban officials claim the law will protect the Hindus by allowing religious police to differentiate them from Muslims who can be punished for not following strict Islamic law. The new edict seems to be aimed solely at Hindus because, according to Taliban officials, there are no Christians and Jews in Afghanistan.
       
• January 8, 2001 – Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar announced that "all countrymen are seriously notified that any Muslim Afghan will be sentenced to death if he accepts Christianity and has converted to this nullified religion or is seen inviting people to Christianity and Judaism as well as propagating and distributing their books." Thus, anyone who converts from Islam to another religion or attempts to convert others will be executed. In addition, it was added that book store owners found guilty of selling books critical of Islam will receive a 5 year jail sentence.
      
• Most non-Muslims have fled the country, thus there are few reports of persecution against them. However, the Taliban is known to oppose all religious groups that do not adhere to the Hanifa School of Sunni Islam. Consequently, other Muslim groups, like the Shi’a, are often faced with persecution.

Prisoners:

• ICC is not aware of any Christians being held for their faith at this time.
    

Suggested Actions You Might Take:

• Pray for the Christians of Afghanistan that they may continue to be protected from harm.
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as that the Christian message may be heard and received by all. the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of the Christians in Afghanistan asking them to make an inquiry into their status.
• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at icc@persecution.org.

Note: Contacts will be updated as available.

*We make every attempt to keep up with and reflect changes in the national government of Afghanistan and the current human rights situation. We appreciate your feedback if you find any discrepancies in this information. You can contact us by e-mail at ICC@PERSECUTION.ORG. Thanks.

POSTED:  March 1, 2002

ICC Articles on Afghanistan:

• URGENT:  Sign the petition the President of Afghanistan before June 10, 2003, to urge President Hamid Karzai to include religious freedom in the new Afghan constitution.