SQ is a young woman from Afghanistan. She was evacuated from Afghanistan by VOM partners and is now safe. The following is SQ’s story, in her own words.
“I am SQ. I was one of the children who had faced the Taliban in the past and have been witness of their tortures and oppression. At that time, I used to wear boys’ clothes and was the breadwinner of a family of eight members.
“My father [was] sentenced to prison for no reason. When I was going to see my father in the city, they were beating me in front of my father to torture him. It was the worst memory of my life that I can never forget.
“After all this happened, I still wanted to live in Afghanistan, become a designer and serve my homeland.
“It was evening [when] I found that my city had fallen into the control of the Taliban. I was shocked, and I was not able to control my tears. I could only see darkness and I was thinking that the world has come to end.
“I decided to get out of Afghanistan and contacted anyone I knew but I wasn’t receiving any good news and didn’t know how to get out of there. It looked [like] all doors are closed and there is no way out.
“Luckily, I received a phone call, it said that I am listed for evacuation and have to be ready. It was the best news I heard since the occupation of Afghanistan by Taliban.
“Some days later, once more I got a call [with] a location. I was told to get there within 15 minutes because there is not time due to security issues. I arrived to the given location and got into the bus, believing that I am leaving Afghanistan and leaving behind all the restrictions.
“During the trip to airport, I was praying not to face any problems or not get stopped by any Taliban [member], because every Taliban decides his own rules. As we arrived to the airport gate our bus was stopped and one Taliban entered the bus to check passengers. He was asking questions of people who were looking suspicious to him.
“When he reached me, he asked me where are my other family members, since I was with my sister and had no male family member with me. He told me that I cannot leave and have to get out of the bus. He wanted to take me out of the bus but the passengers did not allow him.
“It looked like he was not happy with the evacuation, but he has no other choice except to leave the bus to enter the airport. He was continally using ugly words and left the bus. While he was arguing, I was thinking that either he will start beating me or will say that no one is allowed to the airport, and I was feeling that I am once more stuck in Afghanistan.
“He permitted us to enter the airport. It looked [like] fresh air is coming, and I can breathe freely with no tension. As I was getting closer to boarding, I was getting more hope of life and better future. As I got into the waiting room for boarding, I was able to see my future and freedom.
“Once the aeroplane took off from the runway, I was feeling that the world is so calm. When we left the sky [over] Afghanistan, I was able to see the brightness of my future and once more I was free to think about my future and dream.”
To learn more about VOM’s emergency response in Afghanistan and how you can support Afghan Christians like SQ, click here .
Source: Shai Fund
Please Pray
Pray for the peace, protection and provision of believers and their families. Pray that their faith will remain firm through opposition and persecution.
Pray for the safe resettlement of Afghan believers who have been forced to flee Afghanistan.
Pray for unity and fruitfulness for the teams who are working tirelessly to evacuate Afghan Christians.