Photo: Flickr / Hashoo Foundation USA (cc)
Since the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan in 2021, thousands of Afghans who refused to follow the regime's strict form of Islam have been forced to flee the country. Among them are an estimated 13,000 refugees who sought asylum in neighbouring Tajikistan. However, in a deeply troubling development, Tajik authorities have begun forcibly deporting refugees back to Afghanistan, where they could face severe persecution and possibly death.
In mid-July, more than 150 individuals were rounded up from public areas and deported. The group included men, women, children, as well as the elderly. In many cases, families have been torn apart. Among those deported were Christians; other believers managed to flee to safer regions within Tajikistan. The reason for the sudden change in policy remains unknown, though some suggest that the decision may be linked to Tajikistan's alignment with Russia, which recently had formally recognized the Taliban administration in Afghanistan.
Under Taliban rule, Afghans must adhere to strict Islamic beliefs and practices. Those who deviate are subjected to arrest, torture, and even possible execution. No information is currently available about the fate of the Christians who have already been deported; and, for those remaining in Tajikistan, the future is very uncertain.
VOMC's ministry partner, SAT-7, recently received a message from one of the affected Christians, who described the situation as "uncertain and filled with fear and hope mingled together." The believer went on to explain: "Many conflicting reports surround us – some bring fleeting comfort, while others strike terror in our hearts. Some of us face the threat of forced return – not to safety but, for many, to the very mouth of death." Christian refugees in Tajikistan are calling for urgent prayer. To access previously published reports regarding the dire situation in Afghanistan, go to our country profile.
- Please lift up these imperiled Afghan believers in your prayers, asking the Lord to mightily intervene by softening the hearts of the Tajik authorities so further deportations will not take place.
- In the meanwhile, may our Heavenly Father divinely protect those who have already been forced to return to Afghanistan, shielding them from any risk of danger amid the volatile situation.
- May Tajikistan's political leaders value justice and compassion, honouring their commitment to protect vulnerable refugees in need of safety and humanitarian aid.
- Continue to pray for peace and stability to take place in Afghanistan, asking that the oppressive grip of the Taliban will be broken and that religious freedom would be restored.
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