Open Doors tell us that it’s very hard to know precisely how many Christians there are in Afghanistan, because they must keep their faith completely secret – but it is only a small number from a population of over 38 million.
It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in Afghanistan. Leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered. They have to flee the country or they will be killed.
If a Christian’s family discovers they have converted, their family, clan or tribe has to save its ‘honour’ by disowning the believer, or even killing them. Christians from a Muslim background can also be sectioned in a psychiatric hospital, because leaving Islam is considered a sign of insanity.
“How we survive daily only God knows. He has been kind to dwell with us. But we are tired of all the death around.” – A secret Afghan believer