A group for evangelical Christians worldwide is asking believers to join them in prayer for the ongoing political chaos of Afghanistan.

In a statement issued by the World Evangelical Alliance, General Secretary Bishop Dr. Thomas Schirramcher calls for believers to join in prayer for Afghan Christians, who are anticipating severe oppression under the Taliban.

“We are deeply concerned about recent developments in Afghanistan and the dire prospects for all those who do not fit into the Taliban vision of society,” Bishop Schirrmacher said. “What is less reported is the plight of religious minorities, including Christians, who have suffered severe oppression over the past twenty years and are now at even greater risk.”

Local researchers report that there is likely an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 Christians in the country, making them the largest religious minority in the country. However, they are also extremely private and often stay in hiding due to threats and pressures from local authorities. This is, in part, because Afghan Christians are often converts from Islam; a decision which has extreme consequences for believers.

Bishop Schirramcher notes that if believers are caught by Taliban activists, it is extremely likely that they will declare said Christians to be infidels; an offense worthy of death. 

Prior to the Taliban takeover, Open Doors placed Afghanistan in the number two slot with regard to Christian persecution. The only country worse than Afghanistan was North Korea.