by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - The director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom has stated that Christians in Afghanistan are being killed by the ruling Taliban Islamic extremists, Christian Today reports. Nina Shea made her remarks after the Taliban took over Afghanistan again on August 15, and as US troops prepared to leave.
"I'm not exaggerating by saying that the Taliban are killing Christians," Shea told Blaze TV. Shea added her organization is trying to help a Christian man to escape; the man’s father and brother have already been murdered. "And he is in hiding near the airport hoping to get out, hoping to be rescued because he will be next. And it's because he's a Christian," Shea said.
Shea confirmed the situation of Christians in Afghanistan is so dangerous because most of the 8,000-12,000 believers are converts from Islam."And that is considered in the Taliban's eyes to be apostasy that must be punished with death," Shea said.
Moreover, Shea said, Afghan Christians are "doubly jeopardized" because they are associated with Americans and the West, Christian Today reports. "So when the Taliban sees them, not only are they considered an apostate, which is punishable by death, but they are considered the enemy," Shea said.
Even before the Taliban took over the country this summer, Afghanistan ranked 2 on the US Open Doors Watch List 2021 of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The danger for Christians has now intensified even further.