Updates from Open Doors partner Sam Arshad (pseudonym)
For the past 20 years, progress was made in Afghanistan in terms of freedom and opportunities for women and children. There were initiatives to safeguard minors, education and employment for women, better health facilities – but all that was reversed when the Taliban took over.
Recently, our contact told us that the Taliban are broadcasting messages in loudspeakers, driving around in vehicles, telling everyone to follow their proper Islamic teachings. Failure to do so will result in punishment. Towns are also in lockdown. Supply chains have also broken down. Our contact informed us that the cost of living has soared by 400%.
For those who left the country, living as refugees in neighbouring countries, our contacts informed us that they are in desperate need for food, clean water, shelter, heaters, and medical aid.
The situation for Christians
According to our contact, certain lists have gone around about who believers could be. Those lists became available to the TB somehow, and these people are now being hunted down for apostasy, which carries a death penalty under TB’s Shariah Law. As a result, these believers are now forced to go into hiding.
Believers in Afghanistan must live their life very cautiously. They are no longer able to go out freely to meet up with fellow believers, and pastors are finding it difficult to physically meet up with them to encourage them.
Worldwide Consequences
The Taliban’s return fuels fears that the bubble of extremist activity in South Asia and Southeast Asia could burst. The chairman of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization expressed worries in this UCAN report that the Taliban victory could “spark a new wave of radicalism in Indonesia and inspire jihadists to continue, if not increase, terrorist activities.”
In Bangladesh, “Pro-Islam groups in the country have not only openly declared support for the Taliban government, but have packed their bags for Afghanistan to personally join their ranks”. Contacts report that right after the Taliban takeover, Christians from Muslim backgrounds in the north and southwest parts of the Bangladesh have consequently received more personal threats to their safety.
Open Doors' work
We are providing support to partners to provide basic needs for over thousands of refugees, with food, blankets, antiseptics, medicines, winter coats, shoes, socks, diapers, and other needs. We are also supporting the digging of 3 wells to provide clean water for the refugees, as well as the locals in surrounding areas. We are also providing counselling support to those who experience trauma.
We continue to ask the global church to pray for the believers in Afghanistan. We pray the world will know the plight of Afghans.
Ministry to Refugees
For the first time we can feel care and love to us and our children. Thank you, a lot, for this. Now we can see that Christians are loving and sincere.
Afghan refugee
Last December, OD’s frontline partners visited Afghan refugees in Central Asia for presence ministry, and to deliver Christmas gifts. There is a house church and several Christian home groups in one of the villages there where our partners helped believers with the food, some firewood, and coal for heating for the winter period.
The refugees were so glad to find somebody who cared for them, as they are stressed and suffering with everything they had to experience for the last months. As Christians support them, they are open to the Gospel.
The local people feel the impact of the events of the end of last year when Kabul fell. Muslim people with radical views became more active. One church member, Habib*, shares: “It is very dangerous to be a known converted Christian, so we should be very careful in our everyday life and ministry. There is no official church – this looks like it’s hardly possible for us. We only have a house church and small home groups of secret believers – this is the only possible kind of church here.”
Another big issue is poverty – there is not enough food and clean water. Locals use the dirty water from the shallow river there. That is why many have health issues.
The hard economic situation in the whole country caused by the pandemic and several waves of lockdowns brought to that many people have financial problems, especially in remote areas, and its surrounding are also such place.
Late December 2021, our partners distributed Christian materials – Bibles, Christian books, DVDs with Christian films and cartoons to Afghan refugees. Also, for the first time, they organized Christian events for children and distributed Christmas presents in that area. People are so grateful for these events which let them feel the love of Jesus.
For the First Time We Feel Love and Care
A local Muslim woman told our frontline partner: “Nobody cared for us, nobody came to visit and asked how we are doing here – our children never got presents for the New Year or Christmas or other celebrations, as we have no money for presents, but you brought a lot of joy to our children. For the first time we can feel care and love to us and our children. Thank you, a lot, for this. Now we can see that Christians are loving and sincere.”
Praise God that through small deeds, the love of Jesus can be seen and felt by Muslim and Christian locals.
*Name changed for security reasons and representative images used.
