Remaining Korean Hostages Released

Korean group

As of last Thursday, August 30, the last of the nineteen hostages held by the Taliban were released. Upon returning home, a medical examiner reported that some male hostages had been beaten by their captors. Apparently they had been beaten for refusing to take part in Islamic prayers or to convert to Islam and for protecting female captives. Two of them, Je Chang-Hee and Song Byung-Woo, were beaten or threatened with death when they refused to move out of a dugout shelter and leave some of their female colleagues behind. They have reportedly fully recuperated from the attacks.

On Monday, South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun ordered the former captives to repay some of the costs of their rescue. Public rejoicing at the release of the hostages has shifted to criticism and anger at the Saemmul Community Church for sending the team of volunteers into a hostile Muslim country.

Pray that these ex-hostages will fully recuperate from their ordeal. Pray for the leadership of the Saemmul Community Church as they face public hostility. Pray that the threats by the Taliban to kidnap others will come to nothing.

For more information on the difficulties facing Christianity in Afghanistan, click here. Check out Glenn Penner's blogs on the fallout of the concessions made by the South Korean government to secure the release of the hostages.

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC works with ministry partners to provide Afghan Christians with evangelistic and discipleship radio broadcasts to equip followers of Jesus to present the Gospel in a specialized, culturally relevant, and context-sensitive way. VOMC is also helping our ministry partners to translate scripture into the Dari language.

    Project Funds: Underground Church, Relief & Development, Bible

  • Country Information

    Population
    39,232,003 (July 2023 est.)

    Ethnicity
    Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek and others

    Religions (%)
    Islam (99.7), Christianity and other (0.3)

    Government type
    Muslim Theocracy

    Leader
    Taliban Leader Haybatullah Akhundzada

    Legal system
    Taliban Islamic Courts

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Afghanistan

    Pray for the protection of these Afghan believers, and for the consistency of their witness, as God continues to build His church according to Matthew 16:18 ("the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it"). In addition to protecting them from physical danger and harm, ask God to insulate these minority Christians from the spiritual oppression surrounding them. May these dedicated followers of Christ mature spiritually and grow in both faith and number.

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Afghanistan News

  • Taliban Orders Strict Sharia Punishments
    Two men are visiting while seated on the ground.
    Pray that the Gospel would reach the hearts of Afghan people.
    Photo: VOM USA

    When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they promised moderation and justice for all. Regrettably, they have demonstrated something very different, as the rights of women, freedom of the news press, and fair treatment of religious minorities have been brutally repressed. In a recent development, Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada ordered all judges to impose strict Sharia punishments for crimes committed within the country. While the exact list of applicable crimes has not been defined, expected punishments include amputations, public lashings and executions by stoning.

    Read more...

  • Light in the Midst of Darkness
    Video link: Interview with Shoaib Ebadi
    Watch the video interview with Shoaib Ebadi.

    When the Taliban gained control over the governance of Afghanistan a year ago, many organizations were forced to shut down their in-country operations and thousands of believers decided to leave because of the suffering they knew would be coming as a result. Many other Christians, however, chose to remain in the country to be witnesses for Christ despite the severe danger.

    Read more...

  • Currently Ranked Most Dangerous Country for Christians
    A Taliban member - Photo: Voice of America
    A member of the Taliban.
    Photo: Screenshot from Voice of America

    Each year, the Open Doors International organization publishes a list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to follow Jesus. For the past 20 years, North Korea has topped that list due to the oppressive rule of the Kim dynasty (see the North Korea country report for more details).

    In the most recent report, which was published this January, a shift in ranking has clearly taken place. Afghanistan is now at the top of the list, designating it as the most dangerous country to be a Christian. According to Open Doors, the change is not because of improvements in North Korea. On the contrary, the level of persecution in the so-called "Hermit Kingdom" has increased. However, with the return of the Taliban to power, the already oppressive nation of Afghanistan has become so dangerous for Christians that it is now considered the most perilous nation in the world.

    Read more...

  • Report Highlights Dire Conditions for Religious Minorities
    Taliban fighters
    Pray that the Lord will draw Taliban members to Himself.

    The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has stated that Christians and other religious minorities in Afghanistan face "dire consequences, including death, if discovered by the Taliban" for openly expressing their beliefs. Since most Afghan Christians are converts from Islam, all Christians are considered "apostates" by the Taliban – a crime that is punishable by death.

    Read more...

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