“My mom said that because my life is in danger the most, I must leave first and that they would follow later,” Esin told Morning Star News.
The Taliban seized Kabul a few days later, ratcheting up her concern for her Christian family members.
“In a hurry, from India I booked tickets for them, exhausting the major chunk of money that I had with me, so that my family would not get stuck there,” she said. “My family was all set to leave but, sadly, the flights were all suspended the day they were to leave.”
Afghanistan is second only to North Korea on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2021 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Conversion from Islam to another religion is considered apostasy, punishable by death, imprisonment, or confiscation of property.
Family Secrets
Esin said her visa will expire soon, and she is meeting with officials to have it extended. She is one of six siblings from a Muslim family whose Christian members have since faced opposition, threats and intimidation.
Esin first heard the name of Jesus when her eldest brother mentioned it on the phone when she was 7 years old. Growing up without internet access in a country where selling Bibles was restricted, she could not pursue her natural curiosity about Christ, she said.
Her inquisitive nature led her to question Islam, and by the time she was challenging her university religious studies professors about the religion, several of her friends stopped associating with her and labeled her an “infidel,” she said.
Esin did not hear the name of Christ again until 2017, when a girl from the Philippines mentioned it; Esin insisted she tell her about Him. The next year, Esin began to believe in Jesus Christ with conviction.
“I lost myself, but fortunately my Father searched for me, found me and showed me the Way,” Esin said. “I am so grateful that now I am a Christian girl.”
