11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Due to security concerns, Korean Christians did not hold a nationwide „Peace Festival“ in Afghanistan ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23961]

"In July 2006 several hundred Korean Christians arrived in Kabul with plans to hold a nationwide "Peace Festival" with rallies in Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Herat in early August. After talks with the government and foreign embassy representatives, the group decided against holding the rallies due to security concerns."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

It is not possible for Christians to practice their religion freely or to reveal their religious identity ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23982]

"Due to societal pressure, Christians were forced to remain underground, not openly practicing their religion or revealing their identity. During the year there were sporadic reports of harassment and threats against Christians. There was only one known Christian church in the country, located inside the diplomatic quarter. Local nationals wishing to practice Christianity did so in private locations, as the church was not open to them."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Members of the government called for the execution of Christian converts ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23983]

"Members of the government called for the execution of Christian converts. An NGO alleged that in late 2006 a Muslim convert to Christianity was murdered by his wife's father, who was a Muslim. Local authorities investigated the crime but made no arrests; later, they closed their investigation."

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Harassments and death treats against Afghans for converting from Islam to Christianity ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22650]

"The imprisonment of Abdul Rahman reflects concerns regarding the tensions between Sharia and statutory laws, the capacity of the judiciary, the role of clerics in the judiciary and the application of the death penalty. He was imprisoned in March 2006 for converting from Islam to Christianity and threatened with a death sentence. Abdul Rahman was later released on findings of mental instability and granted asylum in Italy. Conservative religious clerics organized a demonstration of over 700 protestors in Mazar-e-Sharif calling for Rahman’s death and denouncing international involvement in the case.

According to a report of the UN Secretary-General, following the highly publicized case of Abdul Rahman, there have been three similar cases of harassment of Afghan Christians. In two of the cases, Afghan families in which some of the members had converted to Christianity reported being harassed by their community and eventually decided to leave the country. In a third case, a Christian convert was jailed on unrelated allegations of homicide. While in jail, another inmate who came to know of his religious belief reportedly killed him."

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Baha’i faith is considered as a form of blasphemy; Afghans converting to this faith risk persecution; converts are seen as a source of shame by family members and communities ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22938]

"In light of the May 2007 Supreme Court ruling declaring the Baha’i faith distinct from Islam and a form a blasphemy, Afghans converting to the Baha’i faith face a risk of persecution similar to that of Christian converts:

“Conversion from Islam is considered apostasy and is punishable by death under some interpretations of Shari'a. As in the case of blasphemy, an Afghan citizen who has converted from Islam (if a male over age 18 or a female over age 16, who is of sound mind) has three days to recant his or her conversion and is otherwise subject to death by hanging.”

Converts are likely to face serious problems as they are seen by family members and tribes as a source of shame and embarrassment. Converts are very likely to face isolation and strong pressure to reverse their decision and repent. In case of refusal, family members could resort to threats, intimidation, and, in some cases, physical abuse that could be life threatening."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Conversion from Islam punishable by death if conversion is not recanted within 3 days ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21535]

"Conversion from Islam is considered apostasy and is punishable by death under some interpretations of Shari'a. As in the case of blasphemy, an Afghan citizen who has converted from Islam (if a male over age 18 or a female over age 16, who is of sound mind) has three days to recant his or her conversion and is otherwise subject to death by hanging."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Kabul resides the only Christian church in the country; church is not opened to locals ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21643]

"Immigrants and non-citizens were free to practice their own religions. In Kabul 200 to 300 expatriates met regularly at Christian worship services held in private locations due to the existence of only one Christian church in the country. This church, located within the diplomatic enclave, was not open to local nationals."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Afghan citizen Abdul Rahman converted to Christianity in 2006 without recanting his conversion; he was detained but later released due to findings of mental instability and granted asylum in Italy; 3 similar cases of harassment of Afghan Christians ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21657]

"The March 2006 case of Abdul Rahman, an Afghan citizen who converted to Christianity, highlighted the extreme cultural sensitivities surrounding religious freedom in Afghanistan. As conversion is not prohibited by the Afghan constitution or penal code, the Afghan legal system defers to Shari'a law - conservative interpretations of which deem conversion to be punishable by death. Rahman was detained in March 2006 for professing his conversion to Christianity and refusing to recant it. He was eventually released based on findings of mental instability and granted asylum in Italy. However, the issue ignited a passionate debate throughout the country. Conservative religious clerics organized a demonstration of more than 700 protestors in Mazar-e-Sharif calling for Rahman's death and denouncing international involvement in the case. The Afghan Parliament objected to the fact that Rahman was whisked out of the country before standing trial and harshly criticized the international community's role in what it characterized as an internal matter.

According to a September 11, 2006, report by the UN Secretary General, following the highly publicized case of Abdul Rahman in March 2006, there have been three similar cases of harassment of Afghan Christians. In two of the cases, Afghan families in which some members had converted to Christianity reported being harassed in their community and eventually decided to leave the country. In a third case, a Christian convert was jailed on unrelated allegations of homicide. While in jail, another inmate who came to know of his religious beliefs killed him."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Group members of a South Korean Christian group accused of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21658]

"In August 2006, more than 1,000 members of a South Korean Christian aid group tried to organize a 3-day peace festival in several cities around Afghanistan. Many were expelled from the country after Islamic clerics accused them of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. Officials in Kabul reported that the South Korean Christians who arrived for the peace festival were warned not to "preach religion." But the officials stated some group members ignored the warnings and were seen trying to convert Muslims. Group members who subsequently arrived at Kabul Airport were refused entry visas and turned back by customs officials. Those already in Kabul were confined to their guest houses. Under the terms of their tourist visas, local officials allowed them to leave the guest houses only in small groups to get food and supplies. Afghan authorities eventually expelled the remaining members from Afghanistan because their safety could not be guaranteed. The Government of Afghanistan maintains that its restrictions on the group were an effort to protect their safety and in response to a fear that their peace festival would have provoked societal violence throughout the country."

Document(s): Open document

29.07.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Gefahr der Verfolgung für Konvertiten ("UNHCR-Stellungnahme zur Frage der Flüchtlingseigenschaft afghanischer Asylsuchender (aktualisierte Zusammenstellung)") [#14757],  [ID 1115]

"Eine Gefahr der Verfolgung besteht weiterhin für Afghanen, die verdächtigt oder beschuldigt werden, vom Islam zum christlichen oder jüdischen Glauben konvertiert zu sein. Die Konversion gilt in ganz Afghanistan als Vergehen, das mit dem Tod bestraft werden kann."

Document(s): Open document

07.03.2003 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

DIS: Officially there is no Christian community in Afghanistan; conversion from Islam to Christianity is not permitted ("The Political, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan: Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan and Islamabad, Pakistan; 22 September - 5 October 2002") [#11326],  [ID 1116]

"As regards the Christians, the UNHCR said that there are currently no Christians in Afghanistan. According to the source, there may be Christian Afghans who have fled from Afghanistan or who have converted abroad, but officially there is no Christian community in Afghanistan. In this connection UNHCR-Kabul pointed out that today it would not cause problems in itself to be working for a Christian NGO, contrary to the situation during the Taliban. However, Afghans, who are working for Christian NGOs, should be careful not to cause suspicion that they sympathise with Christian beliefs. [...]
Afghans who are working for foreign NGOs with a Christian background are also accepted, but Afghan Christians are not. [...]
According to CCA, it is not permitted to convert from Islam to Christianity, and to do so carries the death penalty. CCA would not rule out that NGOs might have converted Muslims to Christianity, but if so this has not been discovered and any converts would have fled the country."

Document(s): Open document