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Confronting Religious Persecution at the IRF Summit

Feb. 10Stories That Demand Action:

Last week I spoke on a panel at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C.—a global gathering that brings together advocates, policymakers, and legal experts from around the world who are on the front lines of defending religious freedom. The Summit provides a rare forum to share firsthand experiences, expose ongoing...More

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Save Christians From Murder in Congo

Save Christians From Murder in...

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has once again become the site of unspeakable violence , with Christian communities being targeted by terrorists and militant forces. On February 15, over 70 Christians – primarily women, children, and the elderly – were added to the list of victims when they were abducted...More

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Save Christians in Afghanistan

Recently, U.N. Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett returned from Afghanistan after his 11-day visit and provided an update on the situation on the ground. The Taliban have continued in their indifference to ongoing human rights abuses being carried out across the country, with many of the abuses committed by Taliban forces. While armed hostilities in many areas have ceased, reducing the overall casualties, there continue to be reprisal killings of Afghans. The Special Rapporteur reported that

[a]lthough the granting of the general amnesty to officials of the former Government and members of the security forces could be a first step toward reconciliation, he was alarmed about reports of ongoing extrajudicial and revenge killings of former members of the security forces and officials, and door-to-door searches.

The Taliban’s disregard for human life is seen in their disparate treatment of women. The freedoms won for women over the course of 20 years have all but disappeared over the last number of months. According to the U.N.:

The advancing erasure of women from public life was especially concerning . . . citing measures such as the suspension of girls’ secondary education, severe barriers to employment, enforcing a strict form of Hijab, or body covering, and limits on freedom of movement, association, and expression.

The attacks and abuses against marginalized peoples in Afghanistan are not limited solely to women. There have been

attacks on places of worship and schools in Kabul, Kunduz, and Balkh provinces, some of which have been claimed by the ISIS-K terrorist group. . . . [S]uch attacks, which specifically target members of the Hazara, Shia, and Sufi communities are becoming increasingly systematic in nature and reflect elements of an organizational policy, thus bearing hallmarks of crimes against humanity.

While the United Nations does acknowledge the perpetration of human rights abuses against Islamic sects and ethnic minorities, this report is painfully silent on the relentless persecution of the Christian minority in the country. As we reported earlier:

[T]he Taliban [are] going door to door looking for anyone who aided U.S. troops, as well as seeking Christians to kill and unmarried women to take captive. Christians are hiding in their homes fearing what the Taliban will do to them – a genocidal persecution. Our own contact with a team on the ground in Afghanistan confirmed that “men, women and children are subjugated, beaten, and executed for their beliefs that differ from the tyrannical Taliban.”

The Taliban’s human rights violations against women, minorities, and especially Christians continue to be prevalent and systematic. The Taliban have publicized their plans for “taking non-Muslim women and girls as sex slaves and forcing boys to serve as soldiers” as part of their efforts to unify the country under Islam.

The ACLJ continues to support persecuted Christians in Afghanistan, and we ask that you sign our petition to defend persecuted believers around the globe.

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Jordan Sekulow  //

Sep 07, 2022

It’s been one year since President Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan. One year since the Biden Administration removed our troops and resources BEFORE making sure all...

Jordan Sekulow  //

Mar 29, 2022

Christians in Afghanistan are facing unimaginable terror under the harsh fist of the Taliban. We are taking EMERGENCY ACTION right now to defend them. It’s heartbreaking; but just as we told you , President...

Jordan Sekulow  //

Jan 20, 2022

The situation for Christians in Afghanistan has become so dangerous under the hard-fisted Taliban, it has garnered the country a new label: the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian. Open Doors...