Country Profile - Afghanistan
Population: 28.1 million
Capital: Kabul
Government: Islamic republic
Religion: Sunni Muslim 80%; Shia Muslim 19%; Other 1%
History and society
Afghanistan has known nothing but strife and conflict in its modern history.
Dramatic shifts of power and violent regime changes have left the nation in ruins.
Although today it is in the first flush of a fledgling democracy, it remains severely impoverished and relentlessly unstable.
The emergence of the Taliban followed decades of political upheaval.
The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support a pro-Communist regime, but soon became embroiled in a struggle against mujahedin rebels. When the Soviets withdrew in 1989, rival Islamic factions vied for power.
Kabul fell to the Taliban in 1996 - and then at least the anarchy subsided. But the Taliban repressed Afghan society with their extreme interpretation of Islam and alienated Afghanistan from the rest of the international community.
The Taliban were toppled by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks on America and their refusal to surrender Osama bin Laden.
Hamid Karzai won the country's first direct presidential elections in 2004 - and has faced the unenviable task of piecing together the fragments of a shattered nation.
Among the many challenges that face him is the resurgence of the Taliban in different parts of the country.
Persecution
Persecution of non-Muslims was blatant and legally enforced under the Sharia (Islamic law) of the Taliban. Today, Afghanistan has a new transitional Government and a new constitution, yet the situation for Christians is much the same.
Under the Taliban, the law imposed the death sentence on anyone converting from Islam - and if the state failed to act, new Christians were often murdered by their relatives.
Now, the law does not discriminate against the tiny Christian minority - but it turns a blind eye when persecution occurs. The constitution clearly states that the state religion is Islam. And conversion from Islam is still widely considered as apostasy.
The Afghan Government recognises only one church, the Community Christian Church of Kabul. Other gatherings of Christian believers exist but most meet in homes. Non-government organisations (NGOs) suspected of spreading the Gospel have been threatened or attacked. People who turn to Christianity face discrimination, even violence.
Ten medical workers murdered in Badakhshan province in August 2010 were accused by the Taliban of 'preaching Christianity', raising fears not just for foreign aid workers but also for Afghan Christians raised as Muslims.
The month before, two NGOs with the word 'church' in their title had been ordered to cease operations and the Government had searched offices connected with Christian activity.
Release projects
Release's work in Afghanistan includes:
- Providing Christian materials to inspire and strengthen the church
- Supporting follow-up for Christian radio programmes allowing Afghan believers to disciple seekers and believers from Afghanistan
Sources: BBC; International Christian Concern; Operation World; Release International; The World Factbook 2010
Updated January 2011
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