Images Show Protesters in Colombia, Not Christians in Afghanistan
The Claim
Images show Christians in Afghanistan tied up in nylon, being suffocated for practicing their faith.
Emerging story
A post has been circulating on Facebook which appears to show naked figures curled up on the ground and wrapped in plastic. “Christians in Afghanistan tied up in nylon to die slowly because they refused to deny Jesus,” reads the caption. One user added, “If this is happening when the Church is still around, what will happen when the Church is gone? Stand firm Beloved for NOTHING shall separate us from the Love of God.”
Misbar’s Analysis
MENA: Misbar’s investigation found that these images do not show Christians being persecuted in Afghanistan. The images come from a video of a performance in Colombia, which was part of a national protest. The description on the video, translated from Spanish, reads, “A tribute to the people who have been found dead in recent days, drowned, in pieces and in bags. In honor of all those who left their homes to fight for their rights and could not return home."
Protests in Columbia have been ongoing since April this year. They began as a response to government corruption, increased taxes, and healthcare reform, and in the past few months, several community organizers have been found dead. The imagery in the performance is in response to three of the organizers’ bodies having been found wrapped in plastic.
The Taliban have been known to persecute religious minorities in Afghanistan, including Christians as well as Sikhs, Sunnis, Hindus, and others.
