Afghanistan (MNN) — The Taliban says it will not back down from enforcing Sharia law despite international outcry. Vice and Virtue Minister Khalid Hanafi defended the arrest of women accused of not dressing appropriately, claiming that human rights in Afghanistan are protected under “Islamic principles.” 

Greg Yoder with ministry Keys for Kids says, “Many of the people who are Muslim within the nation, moderate or not, hate the Taliban. They don’t like that form of Islam.” 

Since retaking control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has required women to wear full-body veils and have male chaperones. The Taliban’s supreme leader has repeatedly called for complete obedience to his directives as a matter of national and religious obligation. Greg Yoder says he is hearing stories of portions of villages being wiped out for not agreeing with the Taliban’s form of Islam. 

Another path

Image courtesy of Keys for Kids

In a country of public floggings, oppression, and fear, people are looking for a message of hope. 

“But then when they hear about God being a loving God who wants to have a relationship with you — that’s beyond what they ever imagined in their form of Islam. That’s when it starts changing,” Yoder says. 

Keys for Kids distributes solar-powered MP3s called Storytellers that have an audio Bible. God opened the door for them into Afghanistan when a former member of the Taliban came to faith in Christ and started bringing the Storytellers across the border. 

Yoder tells the story of an 11-year-old orphan boy. He learned about Jesus, took the Gospel to his village, and brought his imam to faith. It marked the beginning of a church planted in that village. More than 23 churches have been planted in that one region alone since 2025 thanks to the Storytellers. 

A heavy cost

Yet the risk is high for converts and missionaries.

Image courtesy of Keys for Kids

“If they come to faith in Jesus Christ as a Muslim, that’s death, that’s apostasy,” Yoder says. 

One evangelist was stabbed for sharing Storytellers at a mosque. He survived, and now he wants to return. 

Yoder shares the man’s words: “Now I’m going to go back and tell them, ‘You can’t stab me, because you tried that before and God protected me, so you need to listen to the Gospel.’” 

Pray for Afghanistan

Pray for Keys for Kids’ indigenous partners in the country. They risk their lives every time they share the Good News. In the midst of these dark realities, pray for protection, courage, and wisdom for believers, and ask God that those affected by the Taliban’s persecution would come to know Jesus. You can donate to the Keys for Kids program to be part of what God is doing in Afghanistan. 

“God is at work, and hearts are open in Afghanistan,” Yoder says.

 

Header image courtesy of Keys for Kids