Ariana and her family live in Central Asia, safe from the immediate violence of Afghanistan and the Taliban. But they live as refugees, without legal status, and if they are deported home, they will be killed.
The Phone Call
“My brother called me. He said, ‘I heard you betrayed your religion and became a Christian. If you’re under pressure, I will come and save you. But if not, I am willing to sell the carpet under my feet to come and kill you myself.’”
It’s a threat that haunts Ariana* most days.
She loves her husband and children and embraces her in-laws as if they were her own parents. They are all the family she has now. Though her brother is far away, his threat is real. He tried to kill her before when she chose her own husband. He’ll try again, now he knows she’s chosen her own faith.
In Central Asia, where they fled to find safety, Afghans are being deported back to Afghanistan in large numbers—back to a grim punishment for seeking a better life. If Ariana’s family are deported, they all face certain death.
ESCAPING VIOLENCE
Growing up, Ariana was not allowed to go to school, work, choose a husband, or even leave home without a male guardian. Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, life for women has become incredibly restricted.
Ariana never planned to leave Islam, but she fell in love with a man. She chose him, and he loved her just as deeply—a highly controversial decision in a society that arranges marriages for their daughters.
“My brother came to the door of the house with a big knife, wanting to kill me because all [the] people [in our tribe] had found out,” Ariana says heavily.
Her family were furious and forced them to marry to preserve their honour. And then, they cut her off.
Ariana was still happy. She adored her husband. But after a series of attacks that led to her brother-in-law’s brutal murder, they found themselves on the run. Ariana escaped Afghanistan with her husband and in-laws, and once in the relative safety of Central Asia, they revealed a shocking secret: they were Christians. They gently shared their faith with Ariana, and she gave her life to Christ.
“I saw how much oppression and pressure Muslim women lived under, and it helped me see that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life,” she says with the conviction of a free woman.
FEAR FOR OUR CHILDREN
“Christian women in Afghanistan are some of the most marginalised people in the world,” an Open Doors’ local partner explains. “Even refugee women who follow Jesus are significantly vulnerable. They must keep their faith secret as they remain in danger for deciding to leave Islam.”
Even in Central Asia, Ariana’s faith is regarded suspiciously. Landlords refuse to rent her family a home. Her children are at risk and if she ever mentions Jesus, she could be deported and executed back in Afghanistan.
“That’s our biggest fear, being sent back, especially since everyone knows that we have become Christians,” Ariana shares. “We are afraid for our children because our children are the next generation of Christians.”
THE SOURCE OF PEACE
Ariana shares God’s Word with other refugee women. Some are Christian, some are Muslim, but they all draw strength from the Bible.
“They tell me, ‘When you come, we feel at peace,’” says Ariana. “I know it’s not me because I am nobody. It is the presence of God that brings peace in these hard times.”
Across the world, Christian women like Ariana are targeted for their faith and gender. Many are subject to domestic violence, trafficking, and systemic abuse. They are intensely vulnerable, and their suffering is often hidden. Open Doors works hard to ensure every persecuted woman is seen, valued, and empowered to stand strong in persecution. Thank you for your support. We couldn’t do it without you.
“God’s children will always face persecution and suffering,” Ariana says thoughtfully. “But nothing can separate us from the love of God. He is always with us. This is what encourages us and gives us strength for the hardships we face.”
*Name changed for security purposes
