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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 to Turkmenistan Profile and Saudi Arabia Profile.
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