America's silence and Taliban threats pose a risk of deportation for Christian refugees, especially Afghans
The possible deportation of Christian refugees, especially Afghans, not only puts their lives at risk, but also exposes America's silence on the persecution of Christians.
The International Christian Coalition (ICC), a US-based organization, has warned that Christian asylum seekers, especially Afghans, are at risk of deportation from the US. The organization says many of them have received notices indicating that they could be returned to Afghanistan at any moment.
The organization says that while some US officials have expressed sympathy for the refugees' plight, they have so far provided no clear guarantees or concrete action to support them. Based on the findings, Washington authorities have referred these people to use regular and lengthy immigration routes.
The ICC warning comes as the US-based Commission on International Religious Freedom released a new report last week on the Taliban's continued repression of religious minorities. "If Afghans are forced to return to Afghanistan, all of them, including religious minorities, will be at grave risk of persecution," said Vicki Hartzler, the commission's chairwoman.
The International Christian Protection Organization said: "Many of these refugees are the first generation of Christian converts who, if their identities are revealed in Afghanistan, face severe punishments, including execution. The Taliban still consider conversion to Christianity "apostasy" and consider it a death sentence."
The organization also noted that after Trump returned to the White House and suspended the refugee admission program, the process of admitting persecuted religious groups was halted. As a result, some of the refugees who had previously received approval were transferred to camps outside the United States and continue to live in uncertain conditions.
The Commission on Religious Freedom has now called on the US government to restore temporary protected status for Afghan refugees, especially Christians. “By prioritizing vulnerable Afghan religious minorities, the administration and Congress should demonstrate their commitment to freedom of religion and belief,” said Asif Mahmood, deputy director of the commission.
This crisis once again points to a bitter reality: Christians around the world, especially in Muslim-majority countries, continue to be victims of discrimination, oppression, and violence. From Afghanistan under the Taliban to Iran under the Islamic Republic, Christians are constantly exposed to arrest, torture, and social deprivation. The silence and inaction of governments, both in the East and the West, have made the voices of Christian persecution less heard, and the helpless victims are at risk of extinction.
