Christians in Afghanistan: an Overview
Afghanistan is an overwhelmingly Muslim country, with 99.8 percent of its population following Islam. However, Christianity exists as a minority faith, and there is some evidence that it dates back to the 1st century. Despite its small size and over two decades of conflict, Christianity has seen some recent growth in Afghanistan.
Today, there are four churches officially registered with the government, in addition to a significant number of unregistered, underground churches. Most Christians are from minority ethnic communities, mainly Tajik and Hazara, and can be found in the cities of Kabul, Jalalabad, and Herat.
The Taliban Era
During the years of Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, Christianity in Afghanistan was all but wiped out. Taliban forces destroyed churches, confiscated Christian literature and literature, and arrested believers. In 1999, 8 foreign aid workers were allegedly executed because of their Christian beliefs.
These events, while tragic, resulted in a massive exodus of Christians from the country. Although there were some Christians who chose to remain in the country, they were unable to openly practice their faith. The Taliban also implemented a legal system that did not recognize Christianity as a religion, and thus forbade its practice.
Post-Taliban Period
In 2001, with the collapse of Taliban rule, Christianity in Afghanistan began to slowly reestablish itself. The new Afghan laws officially recognized all peaceful religious practices, including Christianity. This enabled the existing underground churches to emerge from hiding, and a few small churches, mostly associated with NGOs, to be established.
The first open-air Christian worship service in decades took place in 2006, and by 2015 the number of churches had risen to four. These churches have sometimes been the target of attacks and harassment, which are often attributed to radical Islamist groups, but have refused to close their doors.
In addition to their struggles with extremism, Afghan Christians also face the challenge of changing cultural attitudes. Many Afghans view foreigners, especially Christians, as a threat to their traditional way of life, and the Taliban’s legacy of violence still looms large in people’s minds.
Public Perception
Most Afghans are unaware that even a small percentage of their population practices Christianity, and those who do know rarely discuss it openly. An oft-cited survey found that while 97 percent of Afghans are endowed enough in Islam to identify themselves as Muslim, only 28 percent are actually practicing the faith.
This indicates that the public perception of Christianity in Afghanistan is largely negative, and that many Afghans do not look kindly on those who practice the faith. Despite this, official Afghan law does guarantee the freedom for both individuals and religious organizations to choose and practice their religion.
Ongoing Challenges
Although Christianity is technically legal in Afghanistan, a number of challenges remain. Most notably, the government does not officially recognize Christian baptism or marriage, leaving many Christians unable to obtain government-issued identification documents. Without these documents, they are unable to open a bank account or obtain other services.
Additionally, because the official Afghan criminal code does not recognize Christian law, many of the protections granted to other faiths are not extended to Christians. For example, the code does not specify any punishment for causing harm to a Christian, whereas injuring a Muslim is considered a serious crime.
The precarious legal status of Christians in Afghanistan is likely to remain until more significant changes are made. It is important, however, to remember that there is also a vibrant community of Christians in Afghanistan, who despite the many challenges they face, still choose to live out their faith openly and with courage.
Access to Education
The Afghan government has developed programs to increase access to education for children of all religious backgrounds, including those from Christian communities. Through various international aid initiatives, these programs have provided the opportunity for Christian children to attend school and obtain a basic education.
However, these efforts have been limited, and it remains difficult for Christian children to obtain a quality education in Afghanistan. There is also discrimination in the school system, and Christian children are often referred to by derogatory terms.
In addition, many of the international aid worker organizations that provide education for Afghan Christian children are often short-lived, leading to large gaps in the educational opportunities available for Christian families.
Aid from the International Community
Though not always well-publicized, the international community has provided a significant amount of aid to Afghanistan’s Christian minority. In addition to education and humanitarian aid, these efforts have included advocacy for the rights of religious minorities and attempts to increase acceptance of Christianity in the country.
For example, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has undertaken several projects to support the rights of Afghan Christians, such as partnering with the Afghan Ministry of Education to improve access to education in Christian communities and working to improve religious dialogue between Muslim and Christian groups.
The European Union has also provided financial support to local churches and aid organizations, and some European nations have offered asylum to Christian refugees. The international community has also drawn attention to the plight of Afghan Christians, raising awareness of the challenges they face.
Conclusion
Despite being a minor faith in a heavily Muslim country, Christianity in Afghanistan has grown over the past few decades, albeit with some setbacks. There are now four churches officially registered, although many more exist in an underground and unofficial capacity.
The Afghan government has acknowledged the right of Christians to practice their faith, but it is still extremely limited, with many fundamental freedoms denied to believers. The international community has provided some support, but Christian communities in Afghanistan still struggle to obtain rights that are guaranteed to other religious groups.
