Quick Facts
Place of Origin: Afghanistan is located in Central Asia. It is surrounded by five countries, Iran (West), Pakistan (East), Turkmenistan (North), Uzbekistan (North), Tajikistan (North).
Religion: Islam (99.7%), other religions include: Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and Bahai.
Population: 38.04 million
(Primary) Languages: Dari and Pashto
(Secondary) Languages: , Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi
- Afghan ‘tribal’ identity is evident in Canada as well as in their homeland—they prefer to interact with their own people/language group over other Afghan immigrants of differing ethnicities/languages.
- Afghans have a great sense & tradition of hospitality.
- Afghans have a strong sense of national pride of who they are & the fact that they have never been conquered for long.
What do Afghan Muslims believe?
- The majority of Afghans identify with Islam. Most follow Sunni Islam, with a significant minority following Shia and Ismaili-Shia Islam.
- Many are nominal in their faith and practice. They may not attend mosque, observe the fast during Ramadan, or wear religious clothing such as hijabs, but still identify as Muslim.
- A small group of Afghan-Sikhs have been welcomed as refugees because they were facing persecution by the Taliban.
- Basic Muslim beliefs page - Islam: Basic Beliefs | URI
Afghan Muslims's Story in Canada
Afghan immigration to Canada began in 1978. The Saur Revolution and subsequent Soviet invasion in 1979 were the initial push factors for Afghans that led to a wave of immigrants arriving in the early 1980s. Many have settled in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Due to ongoing political turbulence Afghan Muslim migration to Canada continues.
Prior to 1978, less than 1,000 Afghans lived in Canada. After decades of political unrest, the number has increased, with approximately 84,000 reported in the Census of 2016. Following the evacuation of Kabul in 2021, the Canadian government promised to relocate up to 20,000 Afghans, most of whom will likely reside in the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Afghan's Story in Toronto
- Afghans have a strong gravitational pull toward the Greater Toronto Area due to the large already-existing community of Afghans, as well as halal markets, cafes, restaurants, and social life. Up to 20,000 more Afghans started coming to Canada as refugees starting late August 2021. More continue moving to Canada to the present.
- Most GTA Afghan Muslims are survivors of trauma; almost every single Afghan here is a refugee, comes from a family of refugees, or is connected to refugees.
- There is a higher per capita incidence of PTSD and other forms of mental issues among the GTA Afghan Muslim populace than the rest of the GTA population.
- In the past decade, the Afghan Muslim community has become fairly well established. Ten years ago, there weren't many families who owned houses. It is estimated that 70% of Afghan Muslims now own a house.
- There are at least 4 Afghan Muslim cultural or religious association centres in GTA.
- Most Afghan women/girls were not allowed to seek formal education in Afghanistan before coming to Canada.
- Afghan Muslims have been displaced due to decades of war, starting with the Russian invasion of 1979-1989, the civil war that resulted from the destruction and chaos that was created in post-1989 Afghanistan (this included the reign of the Taliban), and the aftermath of 9/11 on the country. Consequently, Afghans have become one of the world’s largest refugee populations with a diaspora presence all over the world.
- There are significant divisions between GTA Afghans based on ethnicity (Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek), languages (Pashto and Dari), regions (urban, rural) and expressions of Islam (Sunni, Shiite).
- In general, Afghans are people of Muslim faith. In GTA they do not practise a radical fundamentalist interpretation of Islam like that of the Taliban. Rather than just wholesale rejecting the radical form of Islam that has often been used as a tool of repression in their homeland, Afghans here often rely on Islam for support when confronted with stress.
Where Do Afghan Muslims Predominantly Gather In The Greater Toronto Area (GTA)?
Most Afghan Muslims live in the Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, East York, Scarborough, and northeast Brampton areas, as well as the Don River Valley district of GTA. There are also Afghan Muslims in Milton, Richmond Hill, Ajax, Whitby, Vaughn, & Guelph.
Population estimate in the GTA: 41,735+
Prayer For Afghan Muslims In The GTA
Dear God,
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a virtual online prayerwalk focusing on Afghans in GTA is available; email info@globalgates.ca for more info
More Prayer Items
- Praise God with us for the work of The Jesus Network and one of its missionaries, Obed, who has been working tirelessly the past few years to help complete the refugee/immigration processes to get multiple Afghan families into the GTA and out of Afghanistan. Pray that this work will continue and flourish, that Afghans come to a place that provides them safety, refuge, and exposure to the good news of Jesus and Jesus Himself in a caring, nurturing environment among followers of Jesus.
- Pray the Lord will raise up laborers among Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Afghans to evangelize, disciple believers, & start churches.
- Pray that current missional workers among GTA Afghans become connected to existing Afghan believers.
- Pray for Christians to show Afghans the power of Christ’s love, & empower GTA Christians to be instruments of peace toward Afghans.
- Pray for GTA evangelical involvement among Afghans: it will likely require developing a discreet yet strategically intentional presence among Afghans via social media, as they are very active and connected online, especially back to Afghanistan via the Internet.
- There are few known open Afghan followers of Jesus in GTA from a Muslim, Sikh, or Hindu background, and there are only a few known churches (possibly four) in GTA with Afghans as the primary members/attendees. There are a few believers, churches, & at least three mission organizations focusing attention & outreach efforts on Afghans in GTA. Networking and collaborating with such existing believers, churches, & organizations (and emerging ones) will be wise.
- Pray for more GTA believers to live among GTA’s Afghans in their own buildings/communities (the Move-In approach).
- Pray for more GTA believers to work among Afghans (perhaps in labor jobs).
- Pray that Christians avoid engaging only in aggressive, confrontational, one-time evangelism approaches that have no intention of following up with individual Afghans for discipleship & continuing friendship.
- Pray for Christians to avoid spending so much “tea drinking” time (although very important to aid in establishing friendships) without ever getting to gospel worldview conversations.
