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A small community of Christians in Afghanistan face multiple dangers following the Taliban takeover and withdrawal of US-led forces, Christian rights activists and observers say.<\/p>\n
The lives of minority Christians have become more difficult than ever and they are bracing for increased persecution under Taliban rule, reports Mission News Network (MNN).<\/p>\n
\u201cPrior to Taliban rule, Christians already had a very difficult time living out their faith,\u201d the field director for Asia at US-based Open Doors, a global Christian group supporting persecuted Christians, told MNN.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey [Christians] had to keep it secret from their families for fear of being shunned, or worse, killed. Now that the Taliban is in power, their vulnerability increases tenfold.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to US-based International Christian Concern (ICC), Christians in Afghanistan are almost exclusively comprised of converts from Islam and are estimated to number 10,000 to 12,000. Due to persecution by extremist forces, Christians mostly live secluded lives hidden from the public eye.<\/p>\n
For extremist groups like the Taliban as well as the conservative Afghan society, denouncing Islam is considered a disgrace and converts can face dire consequences if their conversion is discovered, ICC says.<\/p>\n
The Taliban have been checking phones to check if there are any Bibles downloaded onto their phones<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nFollowing the Taliban takeover of Afghan capital Kabul on Aug. 15, a Christian leader appealed to the country\u2019s Christian community to keep a low profile and stay home to avoid being targeted by Taliban fighters.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome known Christians are already receiving threatening phone calls,\u201d the Christian leader told\u00a0ICC. \u201cIn these phone calls, unknown people say, \u2018We are coming for you’.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a recent viral video, a tearful Afghan Christian pleaded with Christians across the globe not to forget the underground church and vowed to \u201ccontinue God\u2019s work\u201d in the conflict-torn country.<\/p>\n
Christian groups have not confirmed any targeted killing of Christians by the Taliban so far.<\/p>\n
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However, Andrew Boyd, spokesman for Christian rights organization Release International, claimed that the Taliban have been \u201csearching door to door\u201d for Christians and at least one Christian has been killed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Taliban have been checking phones to check if there are any Bibles downloaded onto their phones,\u201d Boyd told UK-based GB News. \u201cWe have a report that at least one\u00a0Hazara has been killed as a result of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shoaib Ebadi, an Afghan-Canadian Christian and executive director of Square One World Media, told Voice of Martyrs Canada (VOMC) that most Christian believers are discovered because their family members report them.<\/p>\n
These relatives become \u201cthe first enemy\u201d as they believe turning in Christian converts will cause their family members to return to the Islamic faith, said Ebadi, who has family members in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
And they are the ones sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with their neighbors, families and friends<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nSome media reports claimed that most foreign Christian leaders and workers have fled the country, while Afghan church leaders have received letters from the Taliban stating that their locations and activities are being closely monitored.<\/p>\n
Amid all this bad news for Afghan Christians, Shoaib Ebadi says he sees \u201cgood news\u201d for Christians despite the volatile situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good news is that Afghan Christians are now leading these groups [small house church fellowships]. They are meeting in their homes, risking their lives every day \u2026 taking God\u2019s Word to the people of Afghanistan. And they are the ones sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with their neighbors, families and friends,\u201d Ebadi told VOMC.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Credit: Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A small community of Christians in Afghanistan face multiple dangers following the Taliban takeover and withdrawal of US-led forces, Christian rights activists and observers say. The lives of minority Christians have become more difficult than ever and they are bracing for increased persecution under Taliban rule, reports Mission News Network (MNN). \u201cPrior to Taliban rule, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44242,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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