by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - The Gospel is going forward in Afghanistan even as Afghan Christians face worsening conditions and ongoing mortal danger under the ruling Taliban Islamic terror regime, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
According to the International Christian Concern advocacy and aid organization, conditions for Christians and other civilians in Afghanistan “rapidly deteriorated” following the US withdrawal from the country in August 2021. “Under the current regime, former government officials and civil servants, and religious minorities like Christians endure intense governmental and societal pressure and scrutiny,” ICC explains in its report. “They face regular raids on their homes by the Taliban, frequently receive threats against their jobs and families, and lack access to educational opportunities.”
“The Taliban are working to completely erase Christianity or any religious minority from the country, even stating that there are no Christians in Afghanistan, an obviously false claim, ICC said. “The rising starvation rates and increasing poverty in Afghanistan create an even higher security threat to these believers since now the Taliban are offering financial compensation to anyone who reports on Christians.” Moreover, ICC said, Christians who are captured by the Taliban face torture and even death when they are dragged before “courts” to face charges on account of their faith.
Despite all of this, however, ICC attests that the Gospel is going forward in Afghanistan. “In the country’s rural mountainous regions, people are hungry for the gospel, leading some Afghani believers to make regular trips on foot to these remote villages to preach and mentor new converts,” ICC said.
“Increasing poverty rates, Taliban brutality, and repression of civil liberties have left many Afghani Muslims dissatisfied with their religion, leaving their hearts and minds open to Christianity, and despite the dangers, Christians are reaching out to them,” ICC reports.
Afghanistan ranks 9th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.