2008

Latest U.S. Department of State Information:

About Afghanistan:

More than 3.5 million Afghans live outside the country, mainly in Pakistan and Iran, although over two and a half million have returned to the country has been subject to civil wars, political violence, religious and political extremism and misrule for more than 25 years. Because a proper census has been lacking for decades, there is no clear religious demography to date. Afghanistan was torn between the Communist and Capitalist factions during the cold war. The country, even under its newly formed Islamic regime, remains one of the most impoverished states in the world and one of the worst violators of Human Rights, especially in terms of women and their rights.

Religious Atmosphere:

The Sunnis make up almost 80% of the country?s population, while the Shi?ites comprise 19%. Afghanistan has a small, low profile Christian community and most of them are expatriates. Conversion from Islam is considered apostasy and is punishable by death under the Shari?a Law. The new constitution has no reference to Shari?a but there have been reports that converts to Christianity faced societal discrimination, threats and in some cases have been murdered. There are no Christian or Jewish schools, no Christian churches, and one synagogue.

Extremist groups:

The Taliban had risen to power in the mid 1990s. Many Taliban members had been educated in Madrassas in Pakistan and were largely from Pashtun backgrounds. The Taliban sought to impose an extreme interpretation of Islam and were known for many atrocities committed against religious minorities and women. The Taliban had also provided sanctuary to Osama Bin Laden in the 90?s. Soon after the military attack was carried out by the US and its allies in its anti-terrorist campaign in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban disintegrated rapidly. However, remnants of this radical group still remain in this country.

Government:

An afghan interim government was formed soon after the ?Bonn Agreement? with Hamid Karzai as the Chairman. The Interim Authority held power for approximately six months while preparing for a nationwide ?Loya Jirga? (Grand Council). Following the 2004 elections, Hamid Karzai became the president of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). One of TISA?s primary actions was the drafting of a constitution. The new constitution proclaims that the ?religion of the state is the sacred religion of Islam.?

Against Christians:

In 2006, Abdul Rahman was arrested on charges of apostasy and was sentenced to face the death penalty for refusing to return to the Muslim faith. Muslim clerics and the Afghan community demanded he be killed or executed for ?betraying Islam.? Eventually due to international pressure, Rahman was released and was whisked away to Italy.

Five male converts to Christianity near the eastern border were killed between June and August 2004.

Immigrants and non-citizens were free to practice their own religions. In Kabul, 200 to 300 expatriates meet regularly at Christian worship services, which are held in private locations because there are no Christian churches in the country.

The Constitution requires that the President and vice-President be Muslim.

After an attack in late September 2003 that killed two employees of the voluntary association for rehabilitation of Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesman accused the organization and other Non Governmental organizations (NGOs) of preaching Christianity.

Persecution of Christians is intense. During the Taliban regime, persecution was accomplished formally, by law, and informally, by tribes and families. Since the overthrow of the Taliban, the legal system no longer imposes criminal sentences on Christians. However, it also does not interfere when a Christian?s family or tribe murders him for apostasy from Islam. The situation for native Christians in Afghanistan has not been much better under American occupation or the new elected (but firmly Islamic) regime than it was under Taliban rule. Foreign aid workers who are Christian are, however, somewhat more free to operate than they were under the Taliban.

In 2006, Abdul Rahman, a Muslim convert to Christianity was threatened with death sentence for leaving Islam. However, he was released and was whisked off to Italy. He has changed his name to Joel.

Year 2007 Update:

According to the International Religious Freedom Report, government protection of religious freedom has improved during the year 2007. Assistance from the U.S. has led to reform in the Afghani judiciary, resulting in incremental advances in religious freedom.