September 2021 Persecution Magazine

AFGHANISTAN
ON THE GROUND IN AFGHANISTAN
advocacy. awareness. assistance.
PERSECU ION.ORG
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
Afghan Emergency Fund:
Given the threat facing Afghanistan’s Christian
community, ICC created an emergency fund
accessible to Afghan leaders. This fund will
be used by church leaders to relocate Christian
individuals and families facing persecution.
These funds will relocate Christians within
Afghanistan itself. However, in extreme
circumstances, these funds will be used to
transport at-risk Christians out of Afghanistan
altogether.
“According to the World Bank, 80% to 85% of
Afghans do not have any financial awareness,”
Paul explained. “There is little concept of
savings, and most people live month to month.”
“These emergency funds will be a huge help
because it will help people who do not have
resources when an emergency suddenly arises,”
Paul continued. “It will also allow people who
are fleeing to worry about one less thing.”
According to Paul, transportation costs in
Afghanistan have tripled due to the insecurity
of traveling between cities. The aid ICC
provides to Afghan Christians helps them
overcome these challenges and quite literally
saves lives.
Victims: Groenewald Family
On November 29, 2014, three armed
Taliban fighters attacked the compound of
an international aid agency in Kabul. These
fighters targeted the Groenewald family,
a South African family that lived on the
compound because the Taliban believed they
were Christian missionaries.
After several hours of fighting, the Afghan
military retook control of the compound.
Werner Groenewald, age 42, and his two
children, Jean-Pierre, age 17, and Rode, age 15,
were all shot and killed by the Taliban fighters.
Dr. Hannelie Groenewald, Werner’s wife, was
working at a nearby clinic when the attack took
place. She survived the deadly attack.
Advocacy: Said Musa
In May 2010, footage of formerly Muslim
converts to Christianity being baptized
and participating in prayer gatherings was
broadcast by Noorin TV. The footage sparked
protests across Afghanistan and a wave of
persecution that led to the arrest of Said
Musa.
Said Musa worked for 15 years with the Red
Cross in the orthopedic department, largely
treating victims of landmines. Said is an
amputee with a prosthetic leg, having stepped
on a landmine himself while serving with the
Afghan Army. As a Red Cross employee, he
offered therapy to handicapped children and
was greatly respected by the community.
Word spread in the community that he was
also a convert to Christianity. On May 31,
after taking a lunch break with patients, Said
was rounded up by security officers working
with the Ministry of Interior. Said’s arrest
was the first in what became a nationwide
crackdown against Christians.
After Said’s arrest, the Afghan Church
dispersed, some going into hiding until the
situation calmed. Some fled the country
completely.
For more than six months, as Said remained
imprisoned and faced the threat of execution
for the ‘crime’ of apostasy, ICC advocated
on his behalf, meeting with US government
leaders, leading petitions, and publishing
letters written by Said from prison.
On February 21, 2011, Said was finally
released and allowed to safely leave
Afghanistan.
“I’m so thankful to the Lord that he is free
and know it was a concerted effort on the
part of so many people,” said an ICC contact
in Kabul. “The Lord has allowed us to take
part in this momentous event and I praise
Him that it has ended with the freedom of
Said Musa. Through Said’s letters, he spoke
publicly to the world a powerful testimony of
his faith and perseverance.”
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