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Published: 00:01 GMT Standard Time - Wednesday 09 March 2011

Lent Prayer - Afghanistan

Project(s): 01-998, 01-901

Country/Region: Afghanistan, South and East Asia

20110309-Afghanistan-4X3.jpg
The tiny Christian minority are under immense pressure from persecution in Afghanistan (Source: Hadi Zaher, Wikimedia Commons)

Said Musa (45), a father of six, was arrested at the end of May 2010 as part of a crackdown against Afghan converts from Islam to Christianity. This was prompted by TV footage that month showing converts, including scenes of baptisms. The footage triggered a frenzied anti-Christian response, and some leading political figures in parliament even called for the execution of converts, in accordance with sharia law. Many Christians fled as homes in Kabul were searched, and a number of Christians were arrested, including Said.

The population of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is almost 100% Muslim, yet, praise the Lord, there is a tiny Christian presence, including a few thousand Afghan converts from Islam. The Afghan constitution states that Islam is “the religion of the state” and that “no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam”. Although it also guarantees religious freedom, including the right to change one’s faith, most Afghan Muslims seem to believe – in line with Islamic teaching – that the death sentence is appropriate for converts. There are over 45,000 mosques in Afghanistan, but not a single church building except in one foreign embassy; it is unsafe for the Afghan Christians to reveal their faith or to worship openly.

Afghanistan endured five years of rule by the Taliban (1996-2001), who imposed a more extreme interpretation of Islam than any of the classical schools of sharia. The Taliban were ousted in the 2001 American-led invasion, but a violent insurgency led by Taliban militants has destabilised much of the country. Progress towards stability and protection for minorities is painfully slow.

Pray for the small, vulnerable Christian minority in Afghanistan who risk their very lives by following Christ. Pray for protection for these precious believers; ask the Lord to grant them courage in the face of adversity to continue to demonstrate Christ’s love. Pray too that the Lord will strengthen and uphold all those who were arrested following the May 2010 TV broadcast, and that they will hold fast to their faith in Jesus. Pray for a complete change in the attitude of Afghan society, so that Afghan Muslims who choose to follow Christ may do so in peace and freedom and that Christians may be able to proclaim the Gospel without fear of reprisals.

Barnabas Aid projects in Afghanistan include:

This article is taken from

“Praying for the Persecuted Church in Lent 2011” - order your FREE copy here.

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christian, persecution, charity, church, persecuted, sookhdeo, Islam

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