Escalation in threats to churches

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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.

  • Country Information

    Population
    5,690,818 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Turkmen (85), Uzbek (5), Russian (4), other (6)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (93), Christian (6.4)

    Leader
    President Serdar Berdimuhamedov (2022)

    Government type
    Presidential republic; authoritarian

    Legal system
    Civil law system with Islamic law influences

    Source: CIA World Factbook

    Pray for Turkmenistan

    Pray that the Lord will give the suffering members of the church in Turkmenistan the strength and determination to stand firm amid opposition and oppression. May they be granted opportunities to meet together for meaningful times of worship, Bible study and fellowship – encouraging and edifying one another in the Christian faith. Despite governmental restrictions, and the threat of fine or imprisonment, may the church in Turkmenistan flourish and bear much good fruit.

  • Pray for Turkmenistan

    Pray that the Lord will give the suffering members of the church in Turkmenistan the strength and determination to stand firm amid opposition and oppression. May they be granted opportunities to meet together for meaningful times of worship, Bible study and fellowship – encouraging and edifying one another in the Christian faith. Despite governmental restrictions, and the threat of fine or imprisonment, may the church in Turkmenistan flourish and bear much good fruit.

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Turkmenistan News

  • Christmastime Raid
    Christians studying the Bible - Photo: World Watch Monitor www.worldwatchmonitor.org
    Pray that Turkmen believers will have opportunities to share God’s truths.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    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.

    Read more...

  • 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.

    Read more...

  • 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.

    Read more...

  • Follower of Jesus Endures Detention for His Faith
    Umid Gojayev

    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.

    Read more...

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