Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 429 | Wed 25 Oct 2017
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International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church
Sunday 5 or 12 November, 2017
See: Critical Prayer Requests
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by Anneta Vyssotskaia
UZBEKISTAN: CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED SEVERELY AND CHURCHES TIGHTLY CONTROLLED
Uzbekistan is a country located in the central part of Central Asia with an ancient history and a rich culture -- the famous Great Silk Road goes through its territory. Uzbekistan was once a republic of the Soviet Union, but in 1991 it declared its independence. During the Soviet period, atheism was part of the state policy and all religions were severely persecuted. Islam quickly became the dominant religion (93%) in Uzbekistan, while Christians only make up to 5% of the population. Russian Orthodox Christians make up about 4% and their number is constantly decreasing with the emigration of the Russian population. Protestant Christians are less than 1% and are represented by various evangelical churches. The number of the Uzbek Christians from a Muslim background is unknown but is constantly growing.
For many years Uzbekistan has been the country where Christians experience the severest persecution compared with other Central Asian countries. It is ranked 16th in the World Watch List 2017 of 50 countries where Christians experience persecution for their faith. The most persecuted group are Christians with a Muslim background as they are considered traitors bringing shame on their Muslim families. All forms of pressure are used to make them turn back to Islam, from persuasion to home detention and beatings. Christian women from Muslim background are especially vulnerable as they are expected to submit totally to their parents and husbands. They are persecuted severely by their family if their Christian faith becomes known. Persecution is worst in rural areas. Christians with a Muslim background usually worship in house churches, often changing meeting places because of the danger of police raids. Sometimes they have to meet just one to one.
Registered churches and especially their leaders also experience a lot of pressure and are under unceasing state control. Churches can be infiltrated by spies and church services are kept under surveillance. Police raids on believers' homes, confiscation of literature and digital devices, detention, interrogation and fines are commonplace. Christian education is restricted. There is only one registered Protestant seminary in Uzbekistan, located in the capital city, Tashkent, with a very small number of students. Christians can lose their jobs or businesses can be closed if their faith becomes known. There are reports of police torture when Christians are detained and interrogated.
Following the death of the former President Islam Karimov in September 2016, Shavkat Mirziyoyev became the new President. There were expectations that the new President might bring more religious freedom. The government tries to give the impression of a positive change. In June 2017 there was an official presentation of the Uzbek translation of the Bible, attended by representatives of the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Churches. At a high level meeting of the Central Asia-UN Dialogue in Asghabat in June 2017, Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs said: 'In Uzbekistan the concept of religious tolerance has grown into the atmosphere of religious harmony and openness. In other words, our unity is in diversity.' Unfortunately, in reality no religious tolerance and harmony is observable and the situation with persecution remains very much the same.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT:
* God will enable all Christians to stay strong and continue spreading the Gospel.
* Christians with a Muslim background will be protected and strengthened by the Lord.
* the State authorities will show more real tolerance and human rights will prevail.
SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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CHRISTIANS SEVERELY PRESECUTED AND CHURCHES TIGHTLY CONTROLLED IN UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan, formerly a republic of the Soviet Union, is in the middle of Central Asia. During the Soviet era, atheism was state policy and religion was severely persecuted. Islam is 93% of the population and Christians just 5%. Compared with other Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan is where Christians are most severely persecuted. Those suffering most are Christians from a Muslim background. Churches are infiltrated by spies and police raid believers' homes. There is only one small Protestant seminary in Uzbekistan. Christians can lose their livelihood if their faith becomes known. The new government tries to give the impression of positive change, claiming there is an atmosphere of religious harmony and openness. Unfortunately, in reality this is not observable and persecution remains much the same. Please pray for Uzbekistan and its Christians.
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Anneta Vyssotskaia, a Russian who is a religious liberty expert on Russia and Central Asia, is the guest contributor to the RLPB ministry with this and the next bulletin, filling for Elizabeth Kendal while she is on leave.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
RLPB 428 Tajikistan: Christians Severely Persecuted
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 428 | Wed 18 Oct 2017
by Anneta Vyssotskaia
TAJIKISTAN: CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED SEVERELY
Tajikistan is a country in Central Asia bordering Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. Tajikistan was part of the Soviet Union and became an independent country after the dissolution of the USSR in 1992. Tajikistan suffered a five-year civil war which resulted in many deaths and had a devastating effect on the country's life and economy. It is officially the poorest country in Central Asia and one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Its population approaches nine million and is predominantly Muslim (about 98%).
The Christian churches are a tiny minority and face a lot of pressure from the government and Muslim society. The law prohibits children and young people under 18 participating in religious activities in both churches and mosques. The greatest pressure is on the Christians with Muslim background who experience persecution at all levels -- from their family members, the Muslim community and state officials. The pressure is especially strong in rural areas. The persecution can take different forms, from verbal to physical abuse, beatings, abduction, home detention, discrimination, losing jobs and in other ways. The number of Christian churches remains small and there are many secret believers. It is illegal to meet for worship without state registration, but it is also extremely difficult and practically impossible to get state registration. For that reason, many Tajik Christians meet secretly in house churches, facing the risk of police raids, detention, interrogation and fines.
President Emomali Rahmon was bestowed the official title, 'The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation'. During his 25 years' rule, the religious freedom situation in Tajikistan has worsened significantly. Since 2016, human rights in general are also considerably worse, with many arrests and imprisonment of members of the opposition parties, including top officials.
Christian churches also have been experiencing increasing pressure in 2017. In the capital city, Dushanbe, two kindergartens were closed because of the Christians employed and a Christian book being found. In March, a registered church in Konibodom was raided, believers interrogated, threatened and beaten and the church was closed. In June, a non-registered Baptist church in Dushanbe was raided, books confiscated, believers videotaped, interrogated and their details taken. Demolition of the church building was threatened. Other non-registered churches were raided, books confiscated, church leaders threatened and fined.
In April, Bakhrom Kholmatov (42), the pastor of a registered Sunmin church in Khudzhand, was arrested, accused of inciting religious hatred and sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The accusations were based on Christian hymn books found in the church with songs like 'God's army is marching' and 'Our fight is not against flesh and blood', as well as the 'More Than a Carpenter' book by Josh McDowell. The judges considered they were all 'extremist material'.
PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL WORK FOR:
* all the Christians in Tajikistan, especially Muslim background Christians, to stand strong in their faith as they are interrogated and threatened.
* the restraint of the authorities, for human rights, the rule of law and cessation of attacks on and destruction of churches and their facilities.
* Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov, his family and his church to be comforted and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
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International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church
Sunday 5 or 12 November, 2017
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SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED SEVERELY IN TAJIKISTAN
Tajikistan (formerly in the USSR) borders Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. The poorest country in Central Asia and internationally one of the most corrupt countries, its nine million people are 98% Muslim. The Christian churches are a tiny minority and suffer great intimidation from the government and Muslim society, especially Christians with a Muslim background. There are many secret believers, meeting in house churches. Worshipping without state registration is illegal, risking police raids. The pastor of a registered church, Bakhrom Kholmatov, was arrested for 'inciting religious hatred' and jailed for three years. During Tajikistan's President's 25 years' rule, religious persecution has worsened significantly, as well as human rights in Tajikistan now being considerably worse. Members of opposition parties are frequently arrested. Please pray for Tajikistan and its Christians.
---------------------------------------------------------
Anneta Vyssotskaia is a religious liberty expert on Russia and Central Asia. She is the guest contributor to the RLPB ministry with this and the next two bulletins while Elizabeth Kendal is on leave.
by Anneta Vyssotskaia
TAJIKISTAN: CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED SEVERELY
Tajikistan is a country in Central Asia bordering Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. Tajikistan was part of the Soviet Union and became an independent country after the dissolution of the USSR in 1992. Tajikistan suffered a five-year civil war which resulted in many deaths and had a devastating effect on the country's life and economy. It is officially the poorest country in Central Asia and one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Its population approaches nine million and is predominantly Muslim (about 98%).
The Christian churches are a tiny minority and face a lot of pressure from the government and Muslim society. The law prohibits children and young people under 18 participating in religious activities in both churches and mosques. The greatest pressure is on the Christians with Muslim background who experience persecution at all levels -- from their family members, the Muslim community and state officials. The pressure is especially strong in rural areas. The persecution can take different forms, from verbal to physical abuse, beatings, abduction, home detention, discrimination, losing jobs and in other ways. The number of Christian churches remains small and there are many secret believers. It is illegal to meet for worship without state registration, but it is also extremely difficult and practically impossible to get state registration. For that reason, many Tajik Christians meet secretly in house churches, facing the risk of police raids, detention, interrogation and fines.
President Emomali Rahmon was bestowed the official title, 'The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation'. During his 25 years' rule, the religious freedom situation in Tajikistan has worsened significantly. Since 2016, human rights in general are also considerably worse, with many arrests and imprisonment of members of the opposition parties, including top officials.
Christian churches also have been experiencing increasing pressure in 2017. In the capital city, Dushanbe, two kindergartens were closed because of the Christians employed and a Christian book being found. In March, a registered church in Konibodom was raided, believers interrogated, threatened and beaten and the church was closed. In June, a non-registered Baptist church in Dushanbe was raided, books confiscated, believers videotaped, interrogated and their details taken. Demolition of the church building was threatened. Other non-registered churches were raided, books confiscated, church leaders threatened and fined.
In April, Bakhrom Kholmatov (42), the pastor of a registered Sunmin church in Khudzhand, was arrested, accused of inciting religious hatred and sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The accusations were based on Christian hymn books found in the church with songs like 'God's army is marching' and 'Our fight is not against flesh and blood', as well as the 'More Than a Carpenter' book by Josh McDowell. The judges considered they were all 'extremist material'.
PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL WORK FOR:
* all the Christians in Tajikistan, especially Muslim background Christians, to stand strong in their faith as they are interrogated and threatened.
* the restraint of the authorities, for human rights, the rule of law and cessation of attacks on and destruction of churches and their facilities.
* Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov, his family and his church to be comforted and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
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International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church
Sunday 5 or 12 November, 2017
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
---------------------------------------------------------
CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED SEVERELY IN TAJIKISTAN
Tajikistan (formerly in the USSR) borders Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. The poorest country in Central Asia and internationally one of the most corrupt countries, its nine million people are 98% Muslim. The Christian churches are a tiny minority and suffer great intimidation from the government and Muslim society, especially Christians with a Muslim background. There are many secret believers, meeting in house churches. Worshipping without state registration is illegal, risking police raids. The pastor of a registered church, Bakhrom Kholmatov, was arrested for 'inciting religious hatred' and jailed for three years. During Tajikistan's President's 25 years' rule, religious persecution has worsened significantly, as well as human rights in Tajikistan now being considerably worse. Members of opposition parties are frequently arrested. Please pray for Tajikistan and its Christians.
---------------------------------------------------------
Anneta Vyssotskaia is a religious liberty expert on Russia and Central Asia. She is the guest contributor to the RLPB ministry with this and the next two bulletins while Elizabeth Kendal is on leave.
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