Amid growing anxieties, Afghan Christians in Tajikistan face a challenging predicament as the local government reportedly moves towards expelling Afghan refugees and asylum seekers. The situation has drawn attention due to the potential repercussions for those who escaped Afghanistan’s turmoil.
The fallout from the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 led to a massive exodus, with approximately 3.6 million Afghans fleeing to nearby nations such as Pakistan, Iran, and Tajikistan between 2021 and 2022. However, not all countries have welcomed these refugees warmly.
Pakistan has reportedly deported 845,000 Afghans over the last 18 months, while Iran announced plans to deport four million Afghan migrants earlier this year. Nonetheless, UN figures indicate that 1.9 million Afghans have been expelled from Iran and Pakistan in the past seven months.
Tajikistan might be aligning with these trends, according to Premier Christian News.
Reports have emerged that Tajik authorities are meeting with Afghan refugees, informing them of an impending two-week deadline to leave the country.
In the last 10 months alone, Tajikistan has deported 485 Afghans, including 334 who were either refugees or asylum seekers.
The Afghan Christian community in Tajikistan, though small, is particularly alarmed at the prospect of returning to a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, equating repatriation with a potential death sentence.
Premier Christian News published a letter from an anonymous Afghan Christian leader, stating, “We, a community of Afghan believers, now reside in Tajikistan. Yet our situation is uncertain and filled with fear and hope mingled together. Many conflicting reports surround us – some bring fleeting comfort, while others strike terror in our hearts.”
The leader expressed the dire threat they face, saying, “Some of us face the threat of forced return – a return not to safety, but for many, to the very mouth of death.”
Describing the Afghan Christian community as a “younger brother” within the global Christian family, the letter appeals for solidarity, urging the broader Christian community to listen, pray, and advocate for them.
It concluded with a plea, “Do not let the faith of these dear ones be crushed under the weight of exile and fear.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
