Call for action on Afghanistan persecution

Call for action on Afghanistan persecution

The New Zealand member of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is calling on the government to make representation to the authorities in Afghanistan, asking them to honour their commitment to the United Nations declaration on religious freedom and desist from religious persecution.

NZ Christian Network (visionnetwork) National Director Glyn Carpenter receives regular updates from the WEA Religious Liberties Commission (RLC) and says he is disturbed at recent developments in Afghanistan, where parliamentarians have been calling for the death of converts from Islam to other religions. He has written to the Foreign Minister, Mr Murray McCulley, asking for intervention.

The WEA RLC says the anti-Christian reaction follows the airing of a controversial television documentary on 27 May 2010 purporting to show Afghan Christian converts and revealing the names of some supposed converts.

The WEA RLC is also deeply troubled by statements made by Afghanistan officials, including President Hamid Karzai. It is reported that the President has instructed government officials and the Afghan intelligence agency to take immediate and serious action to prevent further conversions from Islam.

“It is a cause of serious concern that the mere accusation of converting from Islam has resulted in such strong and violent reactions by the Afghan authorities and the public,” says Mr Carpenter. ”We recognize the challenges faced by the Afghan government in rebuilding and restoring peace in Afghanistan after decades of war and division, and the work of New Zealand military forces assisting that restoration.

“Because of these close ties, NZ Christian Network believes it is important that the New Zealand government requests the Afghan administration to take urgent and immediate action to protect the lives of all Afghans.”

New Zealand Christian Network (visionnetwork) is a broad-spectrum network of churches and Christian leaders, with a Board of Reference which includes leaders from all the main denominations. It seeks to present a biblically orthodox position on issues, reflecting the views of the majority of Christians in New Zealand.

ENDS

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