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Turkmenistan

• Christmastime Raid

  

  A group of women who gathered on December 26th had their worship time disrupted by a police raid. The home was searched and cell-phones were confiscated. The women were forced to give legal statements and have their photos and fingerprints taken. At last report, no fines had been levied.

  Though other faith groups have faced harassment throughout the year, this is the only known raid of Protestant Christians in 2019. Even so, the country's leaders maintain tight controls on freedom of belief, allowing only approved activities and religious literature. Any sharing of one's faith is banned and punishable. More information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan is available here.

• Christian Imprisoned for Faith Released!

  

  A prisoner who was charged disproportionately because of his Christian faith has been released from prison after nearly three years behind bars. Umid Gojayev, 32, was freed through prisoner amnesty on February 17th. Turkmenistan's president signed a decree initiating the amnesty to mark the country's celebration of Flag Day.

• Christian Leader Fined Following Police Raid

  

  A Christian leader from Galkynysh in Lebap Region was recently fined two weeks' average local wages following a police raid. The authorities stopped Narmurad Mominov just as he left the home of a Christian family he had been visiting. Narmurad was ordered to stay at the home, where he and the other believers were forced to write statements confessing of their involvement in a religious meeting. During the subsequent search of the hosting family’s home, a New Testament was found in one of the rooms. The officers demanded to know where the homeowner had obtained the Scriptures.

• Follower of Jesus Endures Detention for His Faith

  

  Umid Gojayev, a 30-year-old husband and father of three young children, is continuing to be held in detention because of his faith.

  In early 2012, Umid had an argument with four neighbours over access to a well where they live in Dashoguz. In the scuffle, Umid was forced to defend himself and hit one of the men on the head with a brick, causing injury. The man filed a complaint against Umid with local police. Several days later, Umid and his family reconciled with the man he injured and paid for his hospital expenses. Although the victim refused to press charges, when police learned that Umid was a Christian, they insisted on bringing the case to court.

• Raids and fines against believers

  On Sunday, September 23, police and other unidentified officials raided the home of a Baptist family in the northern city of Dashoguz during a church meeting. The owner of the home, 77-year-old Begjan Shirmedov, was dragged from the house by his collar. About 15 church members were questioned and religious literature was seized. When Begian's wife, 68-year-old Kerime (Klara) Ataeva, complained about the mistreatment, authorities beat her hands until they bled.

  Earlier that month in the same city, police raided a religious meeting at a private home. Three Christians were fined after being found guilty of violating the "law on religious organizations." The charge carries a punishment of fines of between five and 10 times the minimum monthly wage for refusing to register a religious community or for participating in an unregistered religious community. One of the fined Christians, Oleg Piyashev, was visiting Turkmenistan from Russia at the time of the raid. A Russian and Turkmen citizen, he was later banned from leaving Turkmenistan at the airport on September 23.

  Please pray for complete healing and restoration for Begjan and Kerime. Pray the Lord will give them and the other church members the strength to overcome their ordeal and the determination to continue to stand firm. Pray that they, and other Christians facing opposition, will continue to meet together to encourage one another. Pray Oleg will lean on the Lord's strength during this time, and pray that he will have an opportunity to return to his homeland.

  Go to the Turkmenistan Country Report to learn more about our suffering brothers and sisters in Turkmenistan.

• Escalation in threats to churches

  Pray that the believers who were fined and harassed will remain faithful. Photo: s_falkow / Flickr

  The harassment of Christians has been intensifying in Turkmenistan since July, with several Christians facing fines and threats of ostracism and expulsion from villages and schools.

  Several believers have been accused of violating the country's law against participating in an unregistered religious community. This charge carries the punishment of a fine between five and 10 times the minimum monthly wage. In another village, government leaders and Islamic imams (elders) summoned the local residents and threatened to ostracize or expel all Protestants from the community. They also said Protestant children would be kept under special observation at school. In other regions, believers have been harassed, detained, and fined, and one believer's business was seized and shut down after police raided his home.

  Please pray that persecution of believers will cease. More so, pray that those fined and harassed will remain faithful. Pray that authorities in Turkmenistan will come to know Jesus Christ through the very believers they oppose.

  Please visit the Turkmenistan Country Report for more on Turkmenistan's persecuted Church.

• Update: Pastor released from prison

  Praise God for Pastor Ilmurad’s release!

  Nearly 18 months after his August 2010 arrest, Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev has been released from prison. Pastor Ilmurad, 46, was arrested at his home in Mary in south-eastern Turkmenistan on August 27, 2010. He was charged with extracting money from three people -- an accusation his wife, Maya, and fellow church members strongly denied (for more, click here).

  On February 18, Pastor Ilmurad was among a group of about 230 prisoners freed under amnesty from a labour camp. "Church members have been coming to the house to celebrate my release with me," Pastor Ilmurad said. "I want to thank... everyone who supported me and helped [in] my release."

  Praise God for Pastor Ilmurad's release! Pray that God will heal any physical, emotional, or spiritual wounds. Pray that God will continue to equip and use Pastor Ilmurad to further His Kingdom in Turkmenistan.

  Please visit the Turkmenistan Country Report for more on Turkmenistan's persecuted Church.

• Update: Pastor remains detained

  Pastor Nurliev has been imprisoned since August 2010

  Family and friends of Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev were disappointed in late August when the president did not include the pastor in what has become an annual amnesty of prisoners. Pastor Ilmurad was arrested at his home in Mary in south-eastern Turkmenistan on August 27, 2010. He was charged with extracting money from three people -- an accusation his wife, Maya, and fellow church members strongly deny (for more, please go to www.vomcanada.com/tm-2010-10-28.htm).

  A friend of the family told Forum 18 that Maya is "so disappointed" that her husband was not released and that "she sits at home and cries." Family and friends were heartened, however, to hear that the pastor has finally been treated for his diabetes for the first time since his arrest. Maya has been able to visit her husband on approved visiting days.

  Please continue to pray for Ilmurad's release. Pray for comfort for Maya while her husband is in prison. Pray that, as they suffer, they will rely on the Lord's strength and not on their own (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). Pray that many more in Turkmenistan would come to faith in Jesus Christ.

  For more on suffering believers in Turkmenistan, please visit the Turkmenistan Country Report.

• Heavy fines imposed

  Following a January 22 raid on Protestants in a private flat in Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan, a court has imposed heavy fines on 17 of those present. All are thought to have been fined under Article 205, Part 2, of the Administrative Code, which punishes "support for or participation in the activity of a religious group or religious organisation not officially registered in accordance with the legally established procedure."

  The fines represent between one and two months' wages for those in an average state job. "I don't know how these people are going to pay the fines," a source told Forum 18. State officials refused to discuss the case. While the Administrative Code is being re-drafted, previous legislative changes have not improved freedom of religion or belief in Turkmenistan.

  Ask the Lord to establish His church among the people of Turkmenistan, despite the current situation. Pray the Lord will bring genuine religious freedom to this nation. Pray believers will keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, persevere in the faith and not grow weary or lose heart. Pray particularly for young believers in Turkmenistan.

  You can learn more about the mistreatment of Christians in Turkmenistan at theTurkmenistan Country Report.

• Update: Protestant pastor to be sent to labour camp

  Pastor Nurliev Photo from ASSIST News Service

  On October 21, Protestant Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was jailed for four years on charges of swindling -- allegations his family and fellow church members strongly deny (for more information, click here). He is likely to be sent to the Seydi labour camp, where there have been claims of psychotropic (mind-altering) drugs being given to prisoners. Those close to Pastor Nurliev are seriously concerned for his health, as the court ordered forced treatment for alleged drug addiction. They reported that Pastor Nurliev, a diabetic, looked "very, very pale and thin" at the trial.

  Among "witnesses" produced by authorities was a woman already in jail on criminal charges, whom authorities claim gave Pastor Nurliev money. Friends of Pastor Nurliev, who were present at the trial, said that "it was clear the whole thing was set up." Nurliev was surrounded at the trial by MSS secret police officers, who prevented his wife from coming close to her husband.

  Please pray Pastor Nurliev will be given the strength to endure this ordeal. Pray that he and his wife will know of the Lord's promises and His presence. Pray the truth will come to light regarding these charges. Pray for his release.

  Find out more about the treatment of believers in Turkmenistan by visiting theTurkmenistan Country Report.