Do you have a choice in Afghanistan to choose your religion?

Answer 1

According to the Constitution of Afghanistan (Chapter 1, Article 2) the official religion of the State is Islam. However, all citizens of other religions have the right to follow their respective faiths and participate in religious rituals within the boundaries of law. In that regard, they are free to choose their own religion--if they already belonged to a religion other than Islam, there is no legal compulsion upon them to convert to Islam. (Unless they intend to run for President, as only a Muslim can be eligible.)

Afghanistan is a Muslim-majority country and as such, many people are born into the same religion (that is, Islam) that they continue to follow for the rest of their lives. Conversion from Islam into other religions, or no religion, is a controversial subject that remains a matter of heated debate in the Muslim world. While a number of liberal and moderate Islamic scholars maintain the Quran gives people freedom to choose their religion, including convert to one other than Islam, the majority of Islamic scholars, jurists, clerics and Muslims believe it to be a capital offense. Under Shariah law, ex-Muslims are to be put to death.