Afghanistan investigates two church aid groups for ‘proselytizing’

Afghanistan has suspended the activities of Norwegian Church Aid, also known as NCA, and U.S.-based Church World Service pending an investigation into allegations they were preaching Christianity in the Islamic nation where religious conversion is a criminal offense, Reuters Alertnet Service reported May 31.
“Norwegian Church Aid does not proselytize in any of the countries in which it works. This policy is also enforced in Afghanistan,” said NCA on its Web site. “Norwegian Church Aid has been working in Afghanistan since 1979 and has since 1995 mainly implemented its programs through Afghan organizations.
“These organizations know the local conditions and culture better than international organizations do, and this means that we have earned a high level of credibility and legitimacy in Afghanistan,” said NCA.
The activities of NCA have been suspended temporarily, said the Afghan
Ministry of Economy.
The Geneva-headquartered ACT Alliance of 100 churches and related organizations that work together in humanitarian assistance and development, to which both the suspended groups belong, said on June 1 the suspension is
expected to last only a few days.
ACT said in a statement, “A local TV station has for a long period criticized NCA for proselytizing. The government has ordered the investigation to clarify what the church-based organizations are doing.”
NCA General Secretary Atle Sommerfeldt said he looked forward to the investigation being undertaken by a government commission.
“For us, this is a simple case. We don’t have a mandate from the church to preach the Gospel, and as a professional international agency we also follow the international rules on religious neutrality in our operations. It will be good to get government proof of our operations, which are purely non-religious,” Sommerfeldt said in the ACT statement.
Church World Service also denied the allegations on proselytizing, which can carry a maximum sentence of death.
“Our work is entirely humanitarian – meaning we are impartial, neutral, and independent,” said CWS director of programs, Maurice Bloem in a statement
on the group’s Web site. “We fully adhere to and support the Red Cross/Red Crescent Code of Conduct, which mandates that NGOs do nothing to further a religious agenda.
“We have never and will never engage in any religious proselytism. Such activities are contrary to our mandate as a humanitarian organization, and we fully respect the religion of the communities we serve,” Bloem said. “Any allegations that we have engaged in proselytism are entirely false – and we are fully cooperating with the investigation.”
NCA has a staff of 50 in Afghanistan. Two-thirds are local Muslims. NCA also works with 13 local partners whose staff are Muslims. Sommerfeldt said the
government reaction might be a misunderstanding, since his organization has “church” mentioned in the name.
ACT Alliance said that its members in Afghanistan have avoided all symbols that can be seen as Christian, and that NCA is concerned about the demand to halt its activities while the investigation goes on. “ACT members are involved in essential humanitarian projects across the country, helping in areas ranging from health to education,” the alliance stated.