Afghanistan’s tiny Christian minority is bracing for a new round of persecution in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover of the country, Christian leaders and aid organisations warn.

The head of Aid to the Church in Need, which helps persecuted Christians, Dr Thomas Heine-Geldern stated: “ACN predicted the deterioration of the situation in its recent Religious Freedom Report, published in April 2021. Throughout the 22-year history of this report, Afghanistan has always been among the countries that most violates this fundamental right. Especially in the last three years, the report highlights the repeated and egregious attacks against places of worship, religious leaders, and worshippers.

He continued: “Our analysis, unfortunately, does not leave much room for hope. All those who do not espouse the extreme Islamist views of the Taliban are at risk, even moderate Sunni. The Shia (10%), the small Christian community, and all other religious minorities, already under threat, will suffer even greater oppression. This is a huge setback for all human rights and especially for religious freedom in the country.

Meanwhile. an Afghani Christian leader told the aid organisation International Christian Concern (ICC): “We are telling people to stay in their houses because going out now is too dangerous”.

He said that Christians in the country fear that Taliban attacks on Christian communities would start soon.

“It will be done mafia style. The Taliban will never take responsibility for the killings.”

He added: “Some known Christians are already receiving threatening phone calls. In these phone calls, unknown people say, ‘We are coming for you.’”