Afghanistan
Being a Christian in Afghanistan is associated with hostility, danger, and sacrifice that we can hardly imagine. Turning one's back on Islam is considered a disgrace and punishable by death under current Islamic law. Churches and communities exist only underground, and most believers cannot even trust their own families.
The security situation in the country is highly sensitive; terrorist attacks occur almost daily. The basic supply of food, water and electricity is inadequate. The takeover of power by the Taliban in August 2021 has made countless Afghans distressed and refugees in their own country. Afghan Christians in particular are in grave danger. As former Muslims who have converted to Christianity and thus fallen away from Islam, the rules of Sharia law hit them with full force. If their faith in Christ is discovered, those affected face public flogging, torture and even death. Many Afghan Christians therefore flee to other cities or, if possible, abroad.
The country ranks second in Open Doors' World Persecution Index, making it one of the highest persecuted countries for Christians in the world. This persecution is mainly rooted in Islamic oppression and ethno-religiously motivated hostilities.
