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Uzbekistan

• Violations Threaten Religious Freedoms

  

  On November 10th, police in Andijan raided the private flat of Irina Stepanova, a member of a local state-registered church. Police alleged that they were looking for an illegally stored gun but instead concentrated on the confiscation of her Christian books. The five officials who entered Irina's home did so unannounced -- without a legally required search warrant and proper identification. She now faces charges for possessing Christian books and other related materials.

• Imprisoned Christian's Unexpected Release

  
  Tohar Haydarov

  Uzbek authorities have released a Christian convert nearly seven years into his ten-year jail sentence. Tohar Haydarov, 33, was released on parole on November 8th after serving six years and ten months of his prison term. The previous day, a judge had ruled that he was eligible for parole.

  "God heard the prayers of many Christians," fellow Uzbek believers told the Christian news service Forum 18. "We are thankful to everybody who prayed for him and sent letters to him while (he was) in prison."

  Though the former Soviet republic is officially secular, human rights organizations say the state severely restricts religious freedom and freedom of expression, especially members of religious organizations not affiliated with state-controlled Islamic or Russian Orthodox institutions.

  Tohar was found guilty in March 2010 of drug charges, which his fellow believers insist were fabricated. According to Release International, his arrest followed a request made by some of his relatives that local police help them force Tohar to return to Islam.

  A spokesperson for Open Doors stated that his release was surprising because he had been denied amnesty while many other prisoners were granted it in May: "We are very grateful Tohar has been granted parole. We have prayed for him for years, and we need to continue our prayers. After six years in such difficult circumstances, he needs to be restored and re-establish his relationship with his loved ones. We know from other ex-prisoners that the process can be hard."

• Pastoral Family Granted Asylum

  
  Dmitry and Marina Shestakov with their three daughters:Alexandra (left), Vera (centre),and Maria (right).

  Pastor Dmitry Shestakov and his family fled Uzbekistan three years ago after he had endured four years in a labour camp and, subsequently, received numerous death threats. The family's journey to freedom officially ended on August 30th with their arrival in the United States where they were granted asylum.

  Nearly ten years ago, authorities had arrested the pastor after raiding the Full Gospel Church in Andijan. Uzbekistan's Religious Affairs Committee claimed Dmitry was not an authorized leader of any officially recognized religious organization. Labelled an "imposter," he was sent to a prison camp more than 640 kilometres from his home. The distance made it difficult for his wife Marina and their three daughters -- Maria, Alexandra and Vera -- to visit him. (A previously posted report on Dmitry's arrest may be reviewed here.)

  Following Dmitry's release on January 21st, 2011 (exactly four years since he entered prison), the government continued to monitor him closely, requiring him to obtain written permission in order to leave his house. After two years of living under these restrictions and receiving death threats, Dmitry finally moved his family to Ukraine where the United Nations Human Rights Council granted them refugee status.

  Today, Dmitry and Marina, along with their youngest two daughters, Alexandra, 20, and Vera, 16, are starting a new life in the United States. Their eldest daughter, Maria, 22, will remain in Ukraine with her husband.

  We are thankful to the Lord for providing Dmitry and his family safe passage to their new home. May He now lead them to a church where they can continue to grow in their faith and serve Him within a community of fellow believers. Pray that the testimony of the suffering experienced by Dmitry, his wife and daughters will be used to encourage believers in the West to also live out their faith with unwavering commitment and courage.

• Persevering Despite Jail Conditions and Torture

  Latipzhon Mamazhanov, a Christian believer who had been arrested and jailed for 16 days in Fergana, eastern Uzbekistan, was released on March 28th. Police illegally raided Latipzhon's home, and those of other Christians in Fergana, on March 12th while in search of religious literature.

  Latipzhon was imprisoned in the region's Kuva District Police Detention Centre where up to seven inmates were put in a cell designed for two people. No sanitary and hygiene rules were followed, and food was only provided once a day. Latipzhon, along with other prisoners who insisted they were innocent of crime, were also tortured several times during their incarceration.

  "They can keep one Bible in their homes," states Rustam Yegamberdiyev, head of Fergana City Criminal Police. "But if they keep more than one, then this means they are intending to gather others in their homes for illegal prayers and meetings." For VOMC's previously posted reports on Uzbekistan, including video documentaries, go to our online country report.

  We must never take the freedoms we have to worship God and pray so freely in our homes and churches for granted, realizing the many challenges Christians in other parts of the world are facing for doing so. May this privilege be used wisely and fervently among the family of God in our nation as we intercede for His will to be accomplished. Thank you for joining us in praying for the protection of our brothers and sisters in Uzbekistan who are undergoing severe mistreatment by those governing over them. Ask the Lord to remind these persevering believers that, while they may be undergoing persecution from those opposing them, they are truly His beloved children. As their Heavenly Father, He is the One who governs their souls and eternal destiny.... May they have a heightened awareness of His everlasting love.

• Christian Mothers Prevented From Feeding Babies

  
  A group of Christians
  were detained after police
  raided their house meeting.
  Photo: Flickr / David Holt (cc)

  A group of Christians in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, were detained and tortured last month after police raided their worship meeting in a private home. Among those held for nine hours were several nursing mothers who were prevented from feeding their babies until they had signed statements against their host Sarvar Zhuliyev.

  During their detention, three of the Christians were slapped; another was hit and kicked in the head and abdomen. All were denied access to water or a toilet. The 12 adult detainees, and some of the older children held with them, were forced to sign statements against Sarvar, declaring that he had "taught them the faith of Jesus Christ." Police also confiscated Christian literature, money and personal items. The church members were later convicted and fined for "administrative offences" relating to religious materials and teaching.

  The raid was apparently prompted by reports from a head school teacher who noticed two of his pupils sharing their Christian faith with other children. Police then questioned the two students about their church connections. However, local Christians state that the students were merely acting on their own initiative. More information on persecution in Uzbekistan can be reviewed at the Uzbekistan Country Report.

  Ask God to protect and strengthen the Christians who were recently arrested in Tashkent. May each of these believers -- including the children involved in this raid -- know God's abiding presence and peace. Pray that the Uzbek authorities will take firm action to ensure the officers of the law will respect and uphold the religious rights of the country's citizens. Additionally, may all charges against the Christian leader and participating church members be dropped so their worship meetings can continue ministering to the spiritual needs of those within the community.

• Illicit Means Used to Wrongfully Charge Pastor

  Students were bullied into writing statements against their pastor.

  Police in Dostabod, near the capital of Tashkent, have pressured five orphans to write scathing reports against Pastor Sergei Rychagov of Grace Presbyterian Church. With permission from the head teacher of their boarding school, the youths had spent their Saturdays at a private house next to the church where they ate meals and worked on the grounds. On Sundays, they attended church services.

  Based on statements written by the youths in late 2014, Police Captain Mirjasur Anvarov has pressed charges against Pastor Sergei. Judge Khakim Malikov ruled that the church leader had violated four grounds in the Code of Administrative Offences, including violating the procedure for holding religious meetings, carrying out unauthorized religious meetings, proselytizing, and teaching religious beliefs without specialized religious education and permission from central authority. Judge Malikov fined the pastor the equivalent of approximately $3,675 U.S.

  Local Christians have claimed that, throughout the ordeal, the government has engaged in illegal practices and put forth dishonest charges. Although the court hearing took place on February 27th, the government failed to inform Pastor Sergei about it until June 22nd, inhibiting him from testifying on his own behalf. Furthermore, contrary to the government's claim, the pastor indeed has a religious education and his church is officially registered with Tashkent Region's Justice Department.

  Please remember Pastor Sergei and his congregation in prayer. May they be encouraged to continually keep their eyes fixed on the Lord, who has promised to walk closely with them throughout this time of trial (Psalm 116:1). Pray that as they trust in Him -- their Counsellor, Mediator and Friend -- they will experience His wonderful reassurance and peace. In addition to God rendering justice in this situation -- resolving it in Pastor Sergei's favour -- let's also pray that the accusers will come to repentance and the acknowledgement of Jesus as their Saviour. Last, but not least, intercede on behalf of the orphans who were forced to write the accusatory statements, praying that they will experience the healing love of Jesus and His restoration in their lives.

• No Religion Without Permission

  Uzbekistan has enacted a "Prevention Law" aimed at prohibiting the practice of religion without state permission. This law empowers state bodies, committees and district councils to enforce religion laws. It also requires them to report those they suspect might be guilty of religious crimes, such as "teaching" religion or storing religious materials without permission.

  Persecution against Protestant believers has escalated as police raids, administrative detentions and massive fines are issued for merely sharing one's faith or possessing Christian materials. Police brutality and torture are endemic. For example, on May 8th, Murot Turdiyev was beaten and then strangled by police until he lost consciousness. Another believer, Guljahon Kuzebayeva, who merely shared her faith with family members, is so afraid that she's been in hiding since the police raided her home about 12 months ago.

  While Uzbekistan is a secular state, religion is tightly controlled. Christians represent a mere 0.75 percent of the majority Muslim population. Following global trends, Uzbekistan's Muslims are also being radicalized. Unfortunately, as radicalization advances, so does the intolerance of Christianity. More examples of this can be found here.

  Pray that the Lord will minister strength, encouragement and healing to Murot, Guljahon and others who have been directly affected by the harsh actions of the government. Ask Him to give Uzbekistan's Christians, especially pastors and evangelists, great wisdom as they seek to navigate and provide spiritual leadership among an increasingly hostile and difficult environment. Also pray for overall church unity, so that the country's believers will be a blessing and strength to each other through these trying times.

• Catch-22 Predicament Facing Believers

  It can be costly to own religious literature in Uzbekistan. Photo: Barnabas Fund

  In Uzbekistan, where Islam is by far the predominant religion, religious gatherings without state permission are forbidden. On trumped-up charges, such as planted "evidence," Uzbek authorities continue to raid meetings, and even casual gatherings, particularly those of Full Gospel Church members.

  On September 5th, police raided a private home in Syrdarya belonging to a Full Gospel Church member who was meeting for tea with friends. Anti-terrorism police claimed they were holding a religious meeting without state permission. In court, the homeowner testified that the Bible, personal diary and VCR "found" in his house did not belong to his group and he didn't know how they got there. After a false witness testified against him -- the same false witness who testified against nine Baptists in a previous trial -- he was charged 55 times the minimum monthly salary (about $2,450 US), while three others were fined ten times the monthly salary. A selection of the group's literature, including two Bibles, was also destroyed.

  A rash of raids has erupted since this past summer. Among those known, on September 5th, Tashkent's Yangiyul District Court fined a Full Gospel Church and four of its members two to three times the minimum monthly salary and also destroyed their Christian literature. On October 22nd, Tashkent police raided the apartment of a Protestant group. Nine members and the apartment owner were fined from 20 to 25 times the minimum monthly salary. They were ordered to hand over their Bibles to the Russian Orthodox Church, but teaching materials and a computer were destroyed. Two days later, a private home of two Full Gospel Church members in Tashkent was raided. Each was fined 30 times the minimum monthly salary and 30 Christian books were destroyed. Also, on October 27th, the Tashkent Regional Criminal Court fined 18 church members from five, up to 80, times the minimum monthly salary.

  Most ironic, the Samarkand City Criminal Court fined a Seventh-day Adventist 20 times the minimum monthly salary back on September 12th, also confiscating Christian materials, a laptop computer and a tablet device. Why? Reportedly, as a reprisal for the Adventist's application requesting state registration. For other stories of persecution in this country, review VOMC's country report.

  As we intercede on behalf of our fellow Christians in Uzbekistan, mindful of the privileges we have in North America to own Bibles and Christian literature without worry of confiscation or house raid, let us raise our voices up in prayer for God's intervention in each of their cases and for His provision to be made available to cover the cost of these fines and replace the items taken from them. Pray that the leaders of this country will realize the importance of the Christian faith for the betterment of the people, and for society as a whole. In fact, may these leaders discover for themselves the joy that comes from accepting Jesus as Saviour and making Him the Lord of their lives!

• Pastor Fined for Christian Activities

  Two young children look at a media player in Uzbekistan where it is illegal to own Christian materials.

  On August 2nd, authorities raided the home of Pastor Stanislav Kim in Chirchik, detaining 11 teenagers and three adults who had gathered for a volleyball game. Although Pastor Kim (who leads an unregistered church) and his son were not taken into custody, they are expected to face heavy fines. The adults and teenagers were questioned for more than four hours before being released. The authorities also searched Pastor Stanislav's home and confiscated a New Testament, a Bible, several other Christian books, more than 100 slides of hymns, and computer equipment.

• Christian's Home Raided; New Decree Increases Repression

  Photo: Flickr / bloomsberries

  On January 20th, Natalya Gaiyer had her home raided and several hundred Christian books confiscated by secret police working for the National Security Service (NSS) and Anti-Terrorism Department. Natalya, who lives in Tashkent and is a member of an officially registered Baptist church, was also ordered to pay a fine equal to about $130, at least three months' salary in Uzbekistan, for possessing the books.