Pray for AFGHANISTAN

Christianity in Afghanistan is characterized by a small, underground community of believers who face extreme persecution under the current Taliban regime. As of 2025, Afghanistan is ranked among the top 10 most dangerous countries for Christians globally on the Open Doors World Watch List.

Current Status and Persecution

The Taliban maintains that there are “no Christians” in Afghanistan, recognizing only Hindu and Sikh religious minorities. In practice, Christianity is effectively illegal for Afghan citizens.

Legal Consequences: Under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Sharia law, converting from Islam to Christianity (apostasy) is a capital offense. Men may face beheading, and women face life imprisonment or death.
Living Underground: Christians practice their faith in total secrecy within private homes to avoid detection by the authorities, neighbors, or even family members. Discovery often leads to torture, imprisonment, or “honor killings” by family members seeking to avoid communal shame.
Surveillance: The Taliban has intensified random inspections of mobile phones for religious content and uses CCTV in cities like Kabul to monitor the population.
Absence of Public Churches: There are no public church buildings in Afghanistan. The only legal chapel was historically located within the Italian embassy, but it ceased functioning following the 2021 Taliban takeover.

Demographics

Due to the underground nature of the faith, exact numbers are impossible to verify.

Estimated Population: Estimates generally range between 500 and 12,000 individuals. Some sources suggest the number could be as high as 20,000.
Background: Almost all Afghan Christians are converts from Islam or the descendants of such converts.
Diaspora: Many Afghan Christians fled the country during the 2021 withdrawal and have formed diaspora communities in countries like India, the U.S., and the U.K..

Historical Context

Christianity has ancient roots in the region, dating back to at least the 2nd century.

Early Presence: Traditions suggest the Apostle Thomas preached in ancient Bactria (northern Afghanistan).
Church of the East: By the 5th century, the Church of the East had established multiple bishoprics in cities like Herat and Kandahar.
Decline: The influence of Christianity was largely erased by Muslim conquests and later by the 14th-century campaigns of Timur.
Armenian Community: A small community of Armenian Christians lived in Kabul until the late 19th century, when they were expelled.