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AfghanistanThe total number of points for Afghanistan increased slightly and thus the country overtook Iran this year, taking it from third position to second on the World Watch List 2012. The reason for this shift is a further deterioration of the situation. Ten years after the Taliban regime was dispelled from the country by international forces, the situation remains desolate, especially for minority groups, including the small Christian community. Despite having signed all international agreements designed to protect the freedom of religion, the government in the current setting is not even able to guarantee the most basic tenants of this right. On the contrary: being recognized as a Christian immediately places any believer in a very difficult position. All Afghan Christians come from a Muslim background. If it becomes known that someone has converted to Christianity, he or she will face heavy societal and familial pressure. If believers are discovered, they face discrimination by their family and community, as well as local authorities and Muslim clergy. They will be put under pressure to recant their faith. Under such circumstances the tiny Christian minority cannot meet in public. Meetings in private homes are possible, yet require great caution. Consequently, not a single official church building remains, not even for the expatriate believers. The Afghan government treats converts in a hostile manner and will use every means to bring them back to the Islamic faith. This has been proven again in the reporting period by the examples of two Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) who were freed only due to enormous international efforts. Once a Christian is discovered, it is very difficult for him to stay in his homeland. Open hostility, however, is not confined to the authorities. Although the Taliban was weakened and forced into hiding for a time, the terrorist group is regaining strength. In October they issued a statement via one of their websites vowing to purge all Christians from the country - whether foreign or local. They emphasized targeting foreign relief organizations and non-governmental organizations, accusing them of evangelizing Afghans. The Taliban named about 200 organizations, further stating that they have a plan to target the groups one by one. Christian relief workers continue to be a prime target for all kinds of insurgents. In August 2011, two German development aid workers were kidnapped in the province of Parwan, north of Kabul. Both were shot and their bodies were found on September 5. There were additional reports of kidnappings and other difficulties, which show the tenuous situation of all Christians, expatriates as well as locals. International forces will continue their withdrawal in the coming years. This could mean an increased Taliban influence in the country, which will negatively impact the rights of minority groups, including Christians. Pressure on believers in Pashtu areas is even more alarming than in other areas of the country. |
