08/27/2021 Afghanistan (International Christian Concern) – In April 2021, President Biden promised the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghan soil. The operation was to be completed by the 20th anniversary of September 11th. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, 650 U.S. troops remained in Afghanistan at the close of July; and, between August 6-15, 2021 the Taliban regained control of the country, guarding the Hamid Karzai International Airport – the only evacuation point for American citizens and Christians seeking to escape.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom continues to recommend that Afghanistan be added to the State Department’s Special Watch List and the Taliban an Entity of Particular Concern for their severe and consistent violations of international religious freedom. Though the Taliban promises more civility, reports continue to defy such claims. CNN has already stated that women are hardly to be found around Kabul, and the Los Angeles Times recently documented women and children being beaten outside airport checkpoints. There are many reports of Christian martyrdom, some by the group, as well as others who say they are as good as dead if they stay in Afghanistan. Many have chosen not to flee to the airport out of fear that the Taliban will not let them through and will kill them.

Christians are one of the central targets of the Taliban because Islam considers Christians apostates, punishable by death, torture, or imprisonment. According to CBN News, Christianity in Afghanistan was nearly non-existent 20 years ago, when US troops began pushing back against the Taliban. Underground church leaders in Afghanistan now estimate the Christian population to be between 5,000 and 8,000, while other sources say the number could be as high as 12,000. The presence of U.S. troops has likely assisted in the spread of the gospel in Afghanistan, though Eric Patterson of the Religious Freedom Institute highlights that Christian persecution has remained high throughout the past two decades. It is believed that the withdrawal of the U.S. military will speed the decline of religious freedom in the country.

The Heritage Foundation calls the Afghanistan ordeal “the worst hostage crisis in history” and calls to remembrance the Tehran American hostage crisis of 1979. According to an NBC poll, only 25% of Americans approve of the way the Afghan crisis has been handled.

In response to the debacle, the American Center for Law Justice is preparing to address the UN Human Rights Council next month, as well as file a FOIA request to investigate what President Biden and his staff knew about the risks to American lives, including the danger to Christians.

With the 31st of August swiftly approaching, the Biden administration must reconsider its withdrawal policy for the sake of saving the lives of countless Christians and U.S. citizens, especially after yesterday’s terrorist attack that killed at least 12 American military personnel and wounded over a dozen more, along with numerous Afghan nationals. The President has now vowed to hunt down and make those responsible “pay” for the loss of lives. The U.S. needs to maintain its leadership status in the world rather than obey the demands of human rights and religious freedom violators. Ultimately, the Biden administration should be transparent, admit mistakes, and reconvene efforts to assert dominance over the Taliban. As the U.S. withdrawal continues, the international community should ensure that it happens in a way that considers the threat faced by many sectors of the Afghan population, including its Christian minority.

For interviews, please contact Addison Parker: [email protected].