Afghanistan

Key Facts:

Leader:
President Hamid Karzai
Population:
27 million (few Christians)
Majority Religion:
Islam
Type of Government:
Islamic republic

Anarchy and violence continue as the Taliban maintain their attempt to regain power. The new constitution guarantees freedom of religion but also prohibits laws ‘contrary to the beliefs and provisions of Islam’. There are no churches; life for Christians is very difficult. It is too dangerous for them to keep a Bible in their own home. They suffer verbal abuse and intimidation, beatings, loss of employment, imprisonment, and even death. Foreigners engaging in outreach are usually deported.

Prayer

• Pray for strength for the secret believers whose families would force them to renounce their faith.
• Pray for the families of the 23 South Korean workers abducted in July 2007. Two were executed and many were beaten before being deported.
• Pray that the violence will end and that Christian churches can be established.