Freedom Letters

Letter #1

August 2005

Dear Afghan Leader:

With the increasing number of Afghans choosing to follow Jesus there is a potential of violence against Afghan Christians from fundamentalists when this growing minority surfaces in Afghanistan.  We cannot expect the Afghan Church to remain underground forever.  Therefore, we are attempting to be as prepared as possible to address the issue of religious freedom at the appropriate time.

We want to see real freedom in Afghanistan according to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights including freedom of religion.  Our goal is to assist Afghan leaders in preparing to plead this case before the Afghan government, the media and the international community when the time comes for action.

It is essential to directly address this issue at all levels – media, government, and society – in a unified front.  We are also assisting political activists around the world to stand with you in demanding real freedom for all Afghan citizens.

Enclosed please find a draft document with some initial ideas you may wish to consider.

I would love to hear back from you with any additional ideas that I might share with others on this topic.  Using examples from Afghan history and national poetry may be one way to endear the hearts and minds of Afghans regardless of their religious persuasion.

The Bible is very clear in Luke 12:11-12 (NIV)…. “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what to say.”

Many of us are organizing a major worldwide prayer initiative to cover this endeavor.  Please join with us as we engage local churches to stand together with Afghan believers around the world in prayer that Afghanistan will embrace real freedom in the 21^st century.

Sincerely,

Letter #2

August 2005

Afghanistan:  A Nation in Transition

Dear Friend:

Problem:

With the increasing number of Afghans choosing to follow religions other than Islam there is a potential of violence against Afghan Christians from fundamentalists when this growing minority surfaces in Afghanistan.  We cannot expect the Afghan Church to remain underground forever.  Therefore, we are attempting to be as prepared as possible to address the issue of religious freedom at the appropriate time.

We want to see real freedom in Afghanistan according to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights including freedom of religion.  Our goal is to assist advocates like you  in preparing to plead this case before the Afghan government, the media and the international community when the time comes for action.

It is essential to directly address this issue at all levels – media, government, and society – in a unified front.  We are also assisting Afghan leaders around the world to stand with you in demanding real freedom for all Afghan citizens.

Enclosed please find a draft document with some initial ideas you may wish to consider.

I would love to hear back from you with any additional ideas that I might share with others on this topic.  Using examples from Afghan history and national poetry may be one way to endear the hearts and minds of Afghans regardless of their religious persuasion.

Solution:

-         Insist that the government of Afghanistan stand by their recognition of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

-         That the government of Afghanistan would stand by Article II of the Afghan Constitution which guarantees the rights of  all Afghans to practice the tenets of their faith and peaceful assembly.

Action:

-         Be prepared to speak out for the cause of the persecuted Afghans.

-         Vocal, moral, and legislative support puts pressure on the Afghan government to publicly recognize the religious freedom of all Afghans.

Sincerely,