CHRISTIANS IN AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 001516

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM CASC KIRF AF
SUBJECT: CHRISTIANS IN AFGHANISTAN

REF: A. KABUL 01428

B. KABUL 01380

C. KABUL 01346

D. KABUL 01332

E. KABUL 01302

F. KABUL 01291

G. KABUL 01282

H. KABUL 01280

I. KABUL 01268

Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD NEUMANN FOR REASONS 1.4 (C) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: After asylum was granted to Abdul
Rahman in Italy, attention has shifted towards the
greater Christian experience in Afghanistan. Afghan
Christians, in large part remain hidden due to the risk
of discrimination and violence. No new immediate
threat to non-Afghan Christians appears to have
surfaced. The public debate looks likely to
continue with the opening of a &Christian Fellowship8
coffeehouse or potential inter-faith marriages. END
SUMMARY.

Rahman Case Update


2. (C) Public rhetoric, thus far, has been
surprisingly muted. Friday prayers were an opportunity
for clerics to denigrate the West,s alleged
interference in the Rahman case. A cleric in Mazar-i-
Sharif accused the international community of
interfering with Afghan internal and judicial affairs
as well as undermining Islam and their constitution.
Some in Ghazni alleged that this interference was the
start of a Western &Crusade.8 Nevertheless, it appears
that Chief Justice Shinwari has used his influence
with the mullahs to dampen protests -- something
President Karzai told the Ambassador he was grateful
for.


3. (C) Lapis crosses are sold in Afghan bazaars and
Bibles in Dari are being quietly distributed. There
are clearly segments of the population that have no
problem with Christianity or Christian symbolism. The
educated community seems to have a genuine
acceptance of other religions. Afghans whose
livelihoods depend on business with foreigners also do
appear, at least superficially, to be accepting of
their customers; it is unclear how self-selecting this
group is. Conversely, the less educated tend to follow
their religious leaders. International pressure can
force the discussion but it can also fuel extremist
rhetoric and make government officials appear weak.
With the February Danish cartoon protests and last
Fall,s Nasab &blasphemy8 case still fresh in the
public consciousness, the Rahman incident stands out
because of Shinwari,s apparent call to the mullahs for
restraint (though he may have actually been the one
who encouraged the case early on.) We believe there
are still those who would use religion to incite the
population whether on purely religious grounds or
for political gain. Privately Afghan officials have
told us that they support the protection of religious
freedom in Afghanistan, however public pressure,
from the US and other Western countries, can
limit their options for progress on this front.

Afghan Christians


4. (SBU) Embassy queries indicate that though a small
minority of Afghan Christians exists, they keep an
intentionally low profile to avoid persecution or
harassment. Estimates on their numbers vary greatly
ranging from 3,000 to 10,000. One may not even know
that his long-time neighbor is a Christian. Most
Christians appear to have converted outside of the
country; some say up to 3,000 in Pakistan. There also
seems to be a group of Afghans that converted to
Christianity during British rule. No estimates exist
as to the number of recent domestic conversions.
Moreover, we cannot confirm the estimates people offer
) there are many long-time Afghan experts with wide
ranging contacts and years of experience who say they
have never met an Afghan convert to Christianity.


5. (SBU) The consular section receives occasional
letters from Afghans professing to be Christian and
asking how they can go to the US. The consular section
refers them to UNHCR. Most inquirers feel the need to
state that they hate Muslims which seems to be related
to an apocryphal test of loyalty during Communist
times of being required to step on the Koran before

KABUL 00001516 002 OF 003


being allowed to join the Party.

Non-Afghan Christians


6. (SBU) The Rahman case has not appeared to spur any
additional immediate threat to the safety of non-
Afghan Christians. No apparent action is being taken
against this community and they are being allowed to
practice their religion freely as long as they do not
try to include Afghans in their services. Christian
services are regularly held around Kabul for
foreigners. At least one church has &Friday School8
for the congregation,s children.


7. (C) By coincidence, the consular section recently
received an inquiry from an American woman in Kabul
who plans to marry an Afghan man, and wanted to know
whether it was possible to have a legal marriage
performed if both participants were Christian. On
April 3, the Vice Consul discussed marriage
regulations with the head and other officials of the
Afghan Family Court. According to the court, a mixed-
faith marriage can only be among two foreigners or a
Muslim man and non-Muslim woman. In the latter case,
the marriage ceremony must be Islamic.

Missionaries


8. (C) Missionaries could well be the next flash point
for this ongoing debate. Though here for a variety of
reasons on paper, it is clear that there are
Christians in Afghanistan who are actively trying to
convert Afghans. The Consular Section is aware of
American citizens in country who appear to be
affiliated with a faith-based organization. It
appears that, as in some other countries, many
missionaries and others connected with
missionary organizations have their private support
networks and do not register with the Embassy.
Anecdotally, the Consular Section understands that
some of these organizations, whose roots go back as
far as two or three decades, may cycle through
American staff on a short term basis. There may be
American missionaries who come to Afghanistan
frequently but for short periods of time over the
course of several years. When asked at a press
roundtable about Christian evangelists in Afghanistan,
Ambassador Neumann explained that we believe in
freedom of religion and that we have a consular
responsibility to protect Americans. He emphasized
that many countries have laws restricting
proselytizing and that we warn Americans about these
restrictions. (Note: Under &Criminal Penalties,8 the
Consular Information Sheet for Afghanistan says,
&Another potentially sensitive activity is
proselytizing. Although the new Afghan Constitution
allows the free exercise of religion, proselytizing
may be viewed as contrary to the beliefs of Islam and
considered harmful to society.8 End Note.)


9. (C) There seem to be discreet efforts on the part
of some NGO workers to introduce Christianity to those
they work with. Most recently, American citizen, David
Michael (STRICTLY PROTECT),is reportedly leading an
NGO group preparing to open a public &Christian
Fellowship8 coffeehouse ) &Chaila8 (Dari for &grape
arbor8) ) in Kabul,s Karte-e-se District. Although the
coffeehouse will not be overtly Christian in
character, our contact said that organizers are
&spoiling for a fight8 in light of the Rahman Case and
that they plan to offer Christian-themed programs for
both foreigners and Afghans. Mr. Michael reportedly
told our contact that there is a &sizable8 group of
underground Afghan Christians in Kabul who will
encourage Muslim Afghans to patronize the
establishment. The facility is near completion and
slated to open in the next week or so for evening and
weekend Christian Fellowship. Government officials
have related unofficially that they will likely allow
the coffeehouse to open but will then immediately
close it for lacking a license. This aggressive
attitude contrasts with other comments we have heard
from Western Christians. One Western official told
Consul she attends the local &International Church8
which is so crowded it holds two services. She said
that the congregation discourages Afghan worshippers
out of concern for their safety. On her first visit,
she said, some members of the congregation expressed
displeasure because an Afghan driver dropped her off.


10. (C) One locally employed staff member related that

KABUL 00001516 003 OF 003


American family friends he knows well bring him a Dari
language Bible each time they visit Afghanistan.
Others related stories of international aid workers
befriending Afghan families and then attempting to
convert them. The extent to which proselytizing occurs
in Afghanistan is hard to determine because, in most
cases, it is done secretly.

Comment


11. (C) The Embassy continues to follow the Rahman
case closely. The immediate impact of the Rahman case
on Christians in Afghanistan appears to be limited,
but the situation remains susceptible to manipulation
by extremists and the GOA is fully alert to this. The
presence of missionaries and their continued efforts
to convert Afghan Muslims could well be the next issue
to arise. The Christian Fellowship coffeehouse will
be paid close attention to by the Embassy. Some
parliamentarians and other government officials seem
to support the protection of religious freedoms but
have criticized foreign pressure that limits their
options. We will continue to push the Government
of Afghanistan for the protection of religious
freedom through quiet diplomacy.
Neumann