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Uzbekistan

• Police harass pastor

  Pastor Salavat, seen here with his daughter, has been harassed for his Christian witness

  On July 9, security police harassed a pastor and confiscated his laptop while he was waiting for his wife at a market. As Pastor Salavat waited for his wife in their car, two men in military uniforms approached the pastor and asked him to step out of the car. The men grabbed Salavat and treated him roughly. Salavat demanded to see their IDs, which they showed him before searching his car without permission or cause. "It looked as though they were looking for something specific," Salavat said. It soon became clear that they were searching for his laptop, which they confiscated without offering a warrant or receipt. Ten days later, Salavat's laptop was returned without explanation.

  Pastor Salavat spent six months in prison for leading an unregistered church in Uzbekistan. He was later sentenced to a year of forced labour for continuing his Christian work (for more information, click here).

  Pray for peace and strength for Salavat and his family. Pray that those who oppose Christians will be moved by their steadfast faith. Pray that Uzbekistan's leaders will respect freedom of religion.

  To learn more about the challenges believers face in Uzbekistan, go to the Uzbekistan Country Report.

• Christian threatened by police

  A Christian man is facing threats and harassment from police in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for challenging a fine he received for his religious activity. In April, Anvar Rajapov was fined 80 times the minimum monthly wage after police raided his home and confiscated literature. In an attempt to stop Anvar from appealing against the police actions and court decisions, local police summoned him to the police station in late May. An officer then threatened Anvar with violence if he challenged the hefty fine. "I have prepared an axe for you, which will be flying after you, observing you, and if need be get you," the officer reportedly said. Anvar has since made written complaints about his treatment to President Islam Karimov, the Supreme Court, and other state agencies. Court officials have warned him that if he did not pay the fine by June 15 he would be fined again. At last report, Anvar had been summoned in writing to the bailiff's office.

  Pray for endurance of faith for Anvar amid opposition. Pray that he will be a confident witness for the Lord (Matthew 10: 19-20). Pray those in authority will recognize the lack of religious freedom in Uzbekistan and make changes accordingly.

  To read more about trials facing Uzbek Christians, go to theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Update: Pray for imprisoned Uzbek pastor

  Tohar Haydarov remains in prison. Photo: International Council of Churches of Evangelical Christians/Baptists

  The month of April reportedly saw an upsurge in opposition against Christians in Uzbekistan -- from raids to fines to literature confiscation -- underscoring the need to continue to remember the nation's believers in prayer. Tohar Haydarov, 27, has been imprisoned since his arrest in March 2010 and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for the "illegal sale of narcotic or psychotropic substances in large quantities" (for more click here). It is widely believed that the charges are fabricated as a means to punish Tohar for his religious activity. At last report, he had appealed the sentence but there was no indication of progress in justly clearing his name.

  Pray for comfort and peace to reign in Tohar as he suffers for his faith. Pray that he will be assured that he is not forgotten, but loved and remembered by God and His people. Pray that the charges against Tohar will be dropped and that he will be released.

  To find out more about Uzbek believers serving Christ at great cost, go to theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Christian assaulted, fined for distributing Bible

  An Uzbek Christian was recently assaulted and fined in the capital city of Tashkent for giving a children's Bible to one of her work colleagues in 2010. On April 1, Galina Shemetova was leaving a hospital after medical treatment, for which she had been granted sick leave from her work at the local subway station, when she was accosted by a police officer. The officer struck her on the head and dragged her into a police vehicle. The same day, Galina was charged with "attracting believers of one confession to another (proselytism) and other missionary activity" and fined 50 times the minimum month salary in the country (approximately $1,400 CAD). The officer who assaulted Galina claimed that she was "hiding from police for one week [by] pretending to be ill" and when asked what she had done wrong, said "she is a missionary and violated the law."

  Pray Galina will continue to be steadfast in her faith, trusting in God's provision and guidance (1 Peter 5:8-10). Pray Uzbek Christians facing similar trials will keep their eyes on Jesus, persevere in the faith and not grow weary or lose heart. Pray persecutors throughout Uzbekistan will be challenged by the consistent testimony of Christ's followers and be drawn to Him.

  To learn more about the persecution of Uzbek Christians, go to theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Christians facing prosecution after police raid

  Authorities who raided a Christian meeting in Syrdarya Region, central Uzbekistan, in January, are reportedly preparing to prosecute several of the Christians present. On January 6, 12 police officials broke into the home of Pastor Andrey Shevchenko, where approximately 25 members of an unregistered local Baptist church were gathered to celebrate the baptism of Christ. The officials confiscated DVDs, CDs and Christian books. They also forced some of the believers to write statements. Pastor Andrey showed the police documents proving that the material had been purchased from the officially registered Bible Society of Uzbekistan. However, police told him that the literature would be sent to the State Religious Affairs Committee in the capital Tashkent for "expert analysis." In early February, police reported that they are planning to prosecute Pastor Andrey and other local Christians under the code of Administrative Offences for "violation of the law on religious organisations" and "illegal storage, production, import or distribution of religious materials."

  Pray for strength of faith for these Christians as they face opposition. Pray they will not face charges or fines. Pray they will bear witness to the love and grace of Christ, even to their persecutors. Pray Uzbek authorities will treat all of their citizens with true justice.

  You can find out more about the trials facing the Church in Uzbekistan at theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Prisoner of conscience 'released but not free'

  Pastor Shestakov reunited with his daughters

  Former prisoner of conscience Pastor Dmitry Shestakov, who was recently released from a four-year jail sentence, remains under the severe restrictions of "administrative supervision."

  For one year, Pastor Shestakov must report to police in-person almost every week. He may not be outside his home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. He may not leave his hometown without written police permission. He cannot visit public places such as restaurants. The term of administrative supervision can be extended, and the punishments for breaking the supervision include imprisonment for four years. The authorities have refused to explain the reason for the restrictions.

  Thank God for Pastor Shestakov's release from prison. Ask the Lord to help him and his family overcome the suffering they have experienced and give them continued faithfulness and perseverance. Pray Pastor Shestakov's testimony will strengthen the faith of other Christians. Pray for the Holy Spirit to encourage all believers currently serving time in prison for following Christ.

  Learn more about the persecuted Church in Uzbekistan at theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Pastor Dmitry Shestakov released from prison!

  Pastor Shestakov Photo from Forum 18

  We received a report this week that Uzbek Pastor Dmitry Shestakov was released from prison last Friday. Praise God!

  VOM sources report that Pastor Shestakov was released at 3 p.m. local time on January 21. No official church representatives went to meet him--only two courageous elders from the Andijan Church.

  Shestakov is the pastor of the officially registered Full Gospel Church. He was taken into custody by secret service officials on January 21, 2007, and accused of "incitement of national, racial and religious enmity" under Article 156 of Uzbekistan's penal code. He had been serving a four-year, work camp sentence.

  Praise the Lord for Pastor Shestakov's release! Pray he will be reunited with his family, friends and church members. Pray the Holy Spirit will use Shestakov's faithful witness to bring many of his neighbours, friends and even persecutors to Christ (Romans 12:14, 21).

  Find out more about the persecution of Christians in Uzbekistan at theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Christian books confiscated

  Uzbekistan has confiscated Christian books from a youth group returning from Kazakhstan. An Uzbek customs official told Forum 18 that the confiscations were "not confiscation, but temporary removal." Customs officials claimed that a court would decide what would happen to the literature. Believers said that a customs official swore at them, saying "We are the bosses here, and we will do what we like. If we need to, we'll lock you away." Officials refused to provide copies of Confiscation Certificates, and the group was held for nine hours before being released.

  In other incidents, the head of Ukraine's Baptist Union has been denied entry to Uzbekistan, and another Christian has been denied permission to leave -- no reasons were given for either action. Additionally, two foreign religious websites have had access blocked from within Uzbekistan. These actions appear to be part of a policy of isolating religious believers from their fellow believers in other countries.

  Pray the Christians in Uzbekistan will remain faithful in spite of opposition from those in authority. May they know they are not alone but are part of the Body of Christ. Pray for religious freedom in this nation.

  Read more about the persecuted Church in Uzbekistan at theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Christian fined for having a film of Jesus' life

  Uzbekistan has imposed a massive fine on a Protestant man for owning a Christian film. On September 29, police raided Murat Jalalov's home in Tashkent -- apparently on the instructions of the National Security Service secret police. They confiscated 75 DVDs and CDs. The discs included the Uzbek version of "The Jesus Film." The confiscated materials were analyzed by the national state Religious Affairs Committee. The committee declared that the particular film "could be used among local ethnicities for missionary purposes" and was therefore banned. All confiscated materials were ordered to be destroyed.

  Please pray for the church in Uzbekistan. Thank the Lord for the faithfulness of the believers and their desire to spread the Gospel in spite of their restrictions. Pray for all those involved in church leadership and evangelization; may they be bold and courageous, yet wise and discerning.

  Read more about the persecuted Church in Uzbekistan at theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Update: Pray for imprisoned Christian

  Photo from International Council of Churches of Evangelical Christians/Baptists

  In early March, a 27-year-old Christian man, Tohar Haydarov, was arrested on charges of producing or storing drugs and subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison (click here for the full story). Local Christians insist that police planted the drugs on Tohar and that the case was fabricated against him in order to punish him for his religious activity. Members of his church have also described him as "a man with a pure conscience and an honest Christian." At last report, Tohar had appealed his sentence, but the outcome of his appeal was not yet known. (Source: Forum18)

  Pray for strength for Tohar in the face of injustice and oppression. Pray that he will be released and the charges against him will be dropped. Pray that Uzbek believers will be encouraged by the Spirit of the Lord to proclaim their faith confidently, even to their persecutors.

  You can encourage Tohar today by writing him a letter online, in his own language, at www.PrisonerAlert.com. You can also download VOM's letter writing guide, "Doing Time For God," which equips you to write to prisoners of faith around the world. You can download the guide for free at our Advocacy page.

  For more on the persecution of Christians in Uzbekistan, go to theUzbekistan Country Report.