A report on the plight of local Christians in Afghanistan

 

A report on the plight of local Christians in Afghanistan

Imtiaz Chughtai

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, governments around the world have been making plans to rescue endangered Afghans. Germany, has vowed to evacuate as many as 10,000 people. The UK is currently liaising with civil society partners to find out what kind of people need rescue and how they can be evacuated.

India announced last week that it would give priority to expelling Hindus and Sikhs. The operation is underway

Canada has agreed to issue visas to religious minorities whose lives are in danger under the Taliban. Christians are among Afghanistan's weakest minorities. But over time, the Christian community has become increasingly difficult to trace. Concerns are growing that it is too late and there is no way out.

According to a conservative estimate, the number of Christians in Afghanistan is between ten and twelve thousand. The majority of Christians in Afghanistan are "secret believers." Secret honest people are unable to reveal themselves for fear of dangerous consequences. On a large scale, these people have been hiding their faith for decades, because the believers who appear are punished by death under the Shari'a. Among the secret believers are those who have converted to Christianity from other religions.

Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, there has been an increase in Christianity in Afghanistan, partly due to a change in security principles due to the US presence in Afghanistan. As the number of converts increased in 2019, dozens of Afghan Christians decided to add their religious affiliation to their national identity cards so that future generations would not have to hide their faith. Before the Taliban took over in 2021, 30 Christians changed their identity cards.

Now the US withdrawal has left Afghan Christians with no choice but to cooperate with the Taliban. The sudden withdrawal of the United States has pushed many innocent lives to the brink of premature death. The United States had no idea of ​​the consequences. The United States had no idea that the Afghan army it had built for a hefty sum of money would be a mountain of sand to the Taliban.

Well, the Taliban are reportedly working to locate Christians. Some local church leaders have sheltered Christians in their homes. With the hope that they will be able to flee the country at any moment. Other Christians are turning to the mountains to save themselves.

According to credible sources, Christians in Kabul have expressed fears that they will soon be killed. During a telephone conversation, a Christian family in Afghanistan said that the Taliban were targeting Christians and other minorities. Christians are also afraid to protect their children.

We know where you are and what you are doing. "Since the Taliban's announcement, many Christians have turned off their phones and moved to unknown locations. During official assignments in Peshawar and Parachinar recently. I met with an Afghan family, details of which I will include in the next report.

Most Christians in Afghanistan do not have passports. Only 20 to 30 percent of people have a passport. Now the question is which country will accept these Christians without passports. The world is considering providing travel facilities for Christians without passports.

Many Afghan Christians are unwilling to risk the perilous journey from Taliban checkpoints to airports.

 And, for now, passports and safe arrivals at the airport are not enough. Some Christian passport holders who have arrived at the airport have not yet been able to leave the country.

Categories: Religious Harmony