On August 28, South Korean officials and the Taliban announced an agreement to free the remaining Christian missionaries who have been held hostage by the Taliban since July 19 (click here for more details). The Voice of the Martyrs has learned that, as of the morning of August 29, at least twelve of the hostages have already been released.
In exchange for the release of their citizens, South Korea reportedly agreed to follow through on their plans to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year. The officials also agreed to prevent South Koreans from engaging in missionary activity in Afghanistan. Since South Korea was already planning to withdraw their troops by the end of 2007, the deal indicates the kidnapping may have been more religiously-motivated than originally reported.
Glenn Penner, CEO for The Voice of the Martyrs responded to the agreement by expressing his organization's deep concerns over this last condition: "Ultimately, it seems that the only real concession that the South Korean government was prepared to publicly make was the religious freedom of its own citizens. Make no mistake, this decision to withdraw missionaries from Afghanistan and to prevent others from going there is a violation of religious freedom. It is telling Korean Christians, 'You can obey Christ's commission but not in Afghanistan.' This no government has the right to do, even in the name of protecting their citizens. We are also concerned that this concession by the South Korean government could further endanger the safety of Christian missionaries of all nationalities in other countries like Afghanistan where Christianity is viewed with hostility. Religiously motivated militants may conclude, having seen the Taliban successfully drive out South Korean missionaries in this manner, that kidnapping missionaries in the hopes of negotiating similar concessions by other governments concerned over the safety of its citizens is a legitimate and potentially successful strategy.
The Voice of the Martyrs urges governments to refrain, even with the best intentions, from interfering in rights of its citizens to carry out their faith even in dangerous environments and we urge Christians in free nations to recognize that there are risks in taking the gospel to many parts of the world and to accept the consequences of their obedience. This is biblical Christianity at work and we should not be surprised by it. God does not lead us only to safe places."
Praise God for those who have been released. Pray that the remaining Christians will be released. Pray for the family and friends of those hostages who were killed. Pray that South Korean Christians will be emboldened to carry on their service to Christ wherever God leads them.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Afghanistan, click here. Glenn Penner has written a biblical theology of persecution and discipleship that provides the framework for his comments above. To order a copy of "In the Shadow of the Cross," click here.
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