Taliban close office of Christian relief group, arrest 24

ABUL: Afghanistan's Taliban rulers closed the office of a relief organization and arrested 24 of its workers, saying it was propagating Christianity, a Taliban-run news agency reported on Sunday.

Shelter Now International, described on its Web site as a US-based Christian relief and development organization, has been operating in Afghanistan for several years.

The group started as a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, providing housing for some of the millions of Afghan refugees who flooded into Pakistan and Iran.

According to Bakhtar News Agency, the Taliban accused Shelter Now of spreading Christianity, trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, a crime in this orthodox Muslim nation.

Shelter Now faced similar accusations from Afghans while working in refugee camps in Pakistan, but the organization always denied handing out Bibles.
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The Taliban also arrested 64 Afghans whom they said had received instructions in Christianity from Shelter Now workers. The men have been sent to Islamic religious schools, said Bakhtar News Agency.
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In Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, it is a crime punishable by death to either propagate any religions other than Islam or to convert from Islam to any religion.

Shelter Now distributes humanitarian aid as well as builds makeshift shelters for impoverished Afghans.

The Taliban, who rule in 95 percent of Afghanistan, have previously accused some international aid organizations, including Shelter Now, of trying to spread Christianity among Afghans.
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In recent months, the United Nations has accused the Taliban of harassing foreign and local aid workers.

The Taliban deny the charge, but say foreigners living in Afghanistan have to abide by their rules.

The Taliban espouse a harsh brand of Islamic law that forbids most forms of light entertainment and requires the faithful to strictly adhere to the Islamic holy book, the Koran. Women are required to wear the all-encompassing burqa. They are not allowed to mingle with men, work or attend school beyond 8 years old.
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Taliban close office of Christian relief group, arrest 24

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• Technical Support generously provided by the makers of Good News Blog
• AI is sponsored in part by Dutch Amsterdam, Blanes Costa Brava Self Catering Apartments, and IerseBouwer.com