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Turkmenistan

  • Police Raid House Church Gathering

    Secret police and security officers raided a house church meeting in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat on May 3, according to a report from Compass Direct.  Without a warrant, the officials took Bibles, assorted literature and video tapes, some personal pictures and a laptop computer. The Christians were then forced to reenact the meeting while police videotaped them.  According to the May 6 report, the believers remained calm throughout the interrogation. One Christian even asked her interrogator for assistance in registering their church, the Soygi (Love) Church.  Expecting further difficulties, the congregation is appealing for prayer.  "We are now being investigated. We want prayer desperately."

    Government registration is required for any congregation wishing to meet in Turkmenistan.  Registration, however, is very difficult and even those churches that are registered face such stringent restrictions that meeting is virtually impossible. Turkmen officials have said that churches cannot meet in government-owned buildings, private residences and commercial and residential districts.  Getting permits to build is also nearly impossible, leaving very few options other than meeting illegally.

    Pray that the Lord will move many believers from around the world to remember this congregation in prayer on a regular basis (Hebrews 13:3). Thank God for the calm and faithful witness of these believers. Pray that the president of Turkmenistan will come to know Christ as his Lord.

    For more information on Turkmenistan and the trials facing Christians there,click here.
  • Prayer Meeting Raided by Officials and Muslim Imam

    Seven Christians were gathered for prayer in a home belonging to a recent convert named Oguldurdy, when officials from various government agencies, accompanied by a Muslim imam, raided the home.  The attack took place on December 17 in the north-eastern town of Deynau, according to a December 19 report from Forum 18. During the raid, the officials searched the home for any Christian literature and confiscated two Bibles.  The seven were then taken to the Public Prosecutor's office where they were threatened and insulted.  They were told that they should be publicly denounced as traitors.  One woman was threatened with expulsion from her rented apartment.

    Pray that the Lord will grace His people with the quiet joy that comes from knowing that they are accused falsely for Christ's sake. Pray that their trust in Christ will overshadow any fear they might face. Ask God to restore the Bibles and Christian literature taken from them. Pray that the threats of the attackers will come to nothing.

    For more information on persecution facing Christians in Turkmenistan,click here.

    (Source: Forum 18)
  • Registered Church Banned from Renting State-Owned Hall

    After struggling for over a year to gain government registration, the Greater Grace Protestant Church was able to legally meet and signed a rental contract for a hall in a geological institution in Ashgabad, the capital of Turkmenistan.  However, according to a December 9 report from Forum 18, the church was able to only meet four times before they received notice that the contract had been terminated and they would no longer be able to rent any state-owned facility.  It is believed the decision was made after pressure came from the Ministry of State Security (MSS).  City officials have refused to give any statement in writing but they insist that the church cannot meet any longer in the hall.  Church members intend to appeal the decision to the Justice Ministry.

    Pray that the church will find a place to meet together. Pray that the pastor will have the Lord's direction in leading the congregation to continued spiritual growth. Ask God to protect them from discouragement, and that He will give them songs of praise. Pray that the appeal will be a success and that they will be able to rent a building and worship freely.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan,click here.

    (Source: Forum 18)
  • Baptist Church Raided by Anti-Terrorist Police in Turkmenistan

    On August 15, police from the anti-terrorist branch in the north-eastern Turkmenistan town of Dashoguz (Dashhowuz) summoned church leaders from the city's registered Baptist Church for interrogation following the raid of an open-air service the previous day.  According to Forum 18, the believers had just finished their worship service in the countryside outside the town and were gathering to enjoy a lunch together when police officers appeared and started questioning what they were doing.  The officers then confiscated their Bibles and hymnals.

    When church leaders met with the police the following day, the officers claimed that the church's national registration was not valid in northern Turkmenistan. "Individuals can only believe alone on their own at home," police told them.  The church leaders were then pressured to write statements on how they became Christians and why they had Bibles.  They were also pressured to sign declarations that they would not meet until the church obtained state registration.  The leaders told the police, "We will continue to meet in the future as our faith does not depend on registration."

    Pray for their continued boldness and determination to worship God despite the opposition of authorities.  Pray that God will give wisdom and discretion to each of the church leaders.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Turkmenistan,click here.
  • House Churches in Turkmenistan Raided and Invalid Beaten with Bible

    On two separate occasions in recent weeks, Baptist congregations meeting for prayer in private homes in Turkmenistan were raided by police and ordered to disband.

    On July 23, police burst into the home of Asiya Zasedatelevaya in Turkmenabad, where ten to fifteen Baptist meet regularly for Bible study.  They began to interrogate Asiya, even though she is disabled and unable to hear or speak.  They confiscated all her literature and demanded to know where she got it from.  When she did not reveal her source, one of the officers hit her across the head with her Bible while another struck her in the face.  They then threatened to hang her.  Asiya called on the authorities to return her literature.

    The next weekend, plain clothes officers broke up the Sunday morning worship of a registered Baptist congregation in the eastern Turkmenistan town of Mary.  One of the officers identified himself as Eziz Agaev from the anti-terrorism and organized crime department.  Those present were videotaped and then taken to the police station where men, women and children were interrogated.  The church insists that it is covered under its denominational registration, but the police demanded that they sign statements agreeing that they were meeting illegally and would no longer attend services. 
    President Saparmurat Niyazov

    On July 1, Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov issued a declaration that, "we have one religion and unique traditions and customs, and there is no need for people to look beyond these."  Since that declaration, there appears to be increased pressure on religious minorities in this predominantly Muslim country.

    Pray for these and other Christians in Turkmenistan suffering under the oppression of a government controlled by a dictatorial personality cult.

    For more information on Turkmenistan and the persecution facing the Church there,click here.
  • Persecution Not Stopped By Official Registration


    Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov

    		 
    Christian communities in Turkmenistan are questioning the sincerity of Turkmen government religious policies after recent police raids on legally registered religious communities. On March 11, President Saparmurat Niyazov announced that most of the restrictions placed on church registration would be dropped (click here for details). At the time, the announcement was met with some skepticism. Reports of two separate incidents in early August have reinforced this skepticism.

    According to Forum 18, on August 4, six secret police officers raided a private home in the town of Abadan where a small group of Baptists were meeting for Bible study and prayer. Even though the church had received official registration on June 25, the police officers confiscated all of their Bibles and hymnals and ordered them to not undertake any religious activities in the town.

    Three days later, in Turkmenabad, a group of nine children had gathered at the home of an Adventist family to watch the animated feature "Finding Nemo," while the mother of some of the children prepared supper. Police raided the home, claiming that an illegal religious service was in progress. Books, CDs and identity documents were seized. Despite being a part of a registered religious community, police forced the husband to sign a statement that an illegal service was in progress. Since receiving registration on June1, the Adventist community has been seeking a place to meet. However, they are refused rent as soon as the hall managers find out they are seeking a place for a church meeting.

    Pray that Christians in Turkmenistan will stand firm and will continue to reach out to their communities with the love of Christ, despite this opposition from the authorities. Pray that the police and local authorities will respect the religious freedom of the Turkmen people.

    For more information on Turkmenistan and the persecution facing Christians there,click here.
  • Registration Difficulties Remain

    On March 17, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on a surprise announcement by Turkmenistan's president, dropping many of the requirements placed on churches in order to gain official registration (click here). While claiming that registration was open to all religious communities, there was skepticism from some religious leaders, as they saw this as an attempt to gain further control of religious communities in the country.

    Apparently this skepticism was warranted. According to a May 10 report from Forum 18, no religious community has yet gained registration under the new policies. The Protestant Greater Grace Church in Ashgabad recently applied for registration but, after three weeks, has still not received a response.

    One of the difficulties is that officials require religious communities to abide by new registration requirements, but refuse to give them copies of the requirements. One requirement appears to be a twenty percent levy of all donations, to be turned over to the Gengeshi (Council) for Religious Affairs. Also, religious communities that register will still require permission to hold any service or meeting. In what is believed to be an attempt to keep foreigners out of the country, registered groups would also require permission to invite clerics or missionaries from abroad.

    At present, the only two legal religious communities are Sunni Muslims and the Russian Orthodox Church. The chair of the Gengeshi is a Muslim mullah and the deputy chairs include the chief mufti and a Russian Orthodox priest, thus giving these two communities the ability to decide what other religious organizations can be registered. Those organizations who refuse to register face fines and harassment from the authorities.

    Pray for the leaders of churches in Turkmenistan, as they seek God's wisdom in dealing with their government. Pray for new opportunities for Turkmen Christians to reach out with the love of Christ.

    For more information on persecution in Turkmenistan,click here.
  • New Policies in Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia Met With Skepticism

     
    Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov

     
    King Fahd bin Abdulaziz

    Since 1996, Turkmenistan has operated under a constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion, while only Sunni Muslim and Russian Orthodox communities are allowed to register. Unregistered religious groups have faced fines, prison, eviction from their homes, destruction of church buildings and confiscation of property.

    In a surprise decree on March 11, Turkmenistan's president Saparmurat Niyazov lifted a requirement that a religious community have at least 500 adult members before it can apply for registration. An official from the Justice Department told Forum18 on March 12 that unregistered religious communities remain illegal, saying, "The decree simply gives religious communities like the Baptists and others the possibility to work legally."

    Some religious leaders in Turkmenistan are skeptical of the government decree, suggesting that it may be merely a way of bringing religious groups under state control.

    In Saudi Arabia, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz has formally endorsed the establishment of the National Human Rights Association (NHRA) to promote and monitor human rights in what is possibly the most repressive nation of the world. This announcement follows a conference on human rights in October 2003 which concluded, in part, that "tolerance of faith is required by Islam, which also prohibits coercing people to follow a certain religion."

    Saudi Arabia forbids any evangelism and anyone who converts a Muslim faces jail, expulsion or execution. Even foreigners are not allowed to gather for worship. Since 1992, more than 360 foreign Christians have been detained for gathering for private worship. In March 2003, Prince Sultan, told reporters that Christians are free to worship privately, but reiterated that no church buildings will be allowed. He said, "We are not against religions at all... but there are no churches - not in the past, the present or future."

    Pray that the push for human rights in general and religious freedom in particular will continue in Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia. Pray that Christians in these countries will soon be free to worship and practice their faith.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia, go toTurkmenistan Profile andSaudi Arabia Profile.
  • Personality Cult Imposed on Churches

    Since 1996, the people of Turkmenistan have lived under highly restrictive laws that allow only two religious communities to register; the Sunni Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox Church.  On March 11, 2004, President Saparmurat Niyazov announced that most restrictions on church registrations would be dropped.  However, this did not prevent further persecution.  While some church groups have been able to register, they continue to face serious restrictions on where they can worship.  They also face a ban on the printing and importing of religious literature.  Raids on church groups meeting outside of approved locations have been documented.

    Golden Statue of President Niyazov which rotates to face the sun
    Monument to Niyazov's Rukhnama.
    Throughout the day, the book will open and close.
    One of the obstacles also faced by religious communities in Turkmenistan is the enforced personality cult of President Niyazov.  Referred to as Turkmenbashi (Father of the Turkmens), he has ruled single-handedly since Turkmenistan's independence from the USSR in 1991.  A golden statue of Niyozov stands in the capital of Ashgabat which always rotates to face the sun.  A monument has been erected to his writings and a huge mosque was built in his home town of Kipchak, integrating quotes from Niyazov's writings, known as Rukhnama (Book of the Soul), on the walls, together with passages from the Koran. The government has begun pressuring religious communities, both Christian and Muslim, to integrate the reading of Niyazov's books into their worship, quoting him alongside the Bible or Koran.  One official said in 2000 that the Rukhnama makes up shortcomings in the Bible and the Koran. 

    Pray for churches, as they endeavour to minister to the people of Turkmenistan under the cloud of this dictator.  Pray for wisdom and strength for those pressured to integrate the writings of this man with the words of Scripture.

    For more information on persecution facing Christians in Turkmenistan,click here.
  • Baptist Church Members Face Severe Fines

    In the Persecution and Prayer Alert of December 10, VOM reported on threats of fines and charges against a Baptist church in Balkanabad, Turkmenistan (see https://www.vomcanada.com/tm-2003-12-10.htm)

    On January 9, Forum 18 reported that fines of more than one month's wage were given to each of twelve members of the church as a result of the raid on November 30. They were also warned that the next time the fine would be larger. If they offended a third time, they risked criminal charges. The names of those fined were: Boris Grishin, Olga Vasilieva, Marina Chukileva, Lyudmila Tabalenkova, Tatyana Kosenchuk, Mariya Vilkova, Maksim Grishin, Yury Kippa, Vitaly Konovalov, Tariel Ramazanov, Nikolai Matsenko and Albina Matsenko.


    Turkmenistan Presidential Palace

    		 
    A new law passed in November 2003 allowed for up to one year of "corrective labour" for unregistered religious activity. Only Sunni Muslims and the Russian Orthodox Church have been allowed to register.

    Pray for financial provisions for those facing these difficult fines. Pray for believers throughout Turkmenistan facing similar persecution from the authorities.

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