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Uzbekistan

• 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.

• Christians jailed and fined

  Ten Protestants were recently jailed for between three and five days, and three were fined 80 times the minimum monthly wage following a brutal raid on July 28 in Tashkent's Mirzo-Ulugbek District. Twenty-three people, including small children, were detained and two personal Bibles, four songbooks and one textbook of violin lessons were confiscated. They then began pushing the believers forcefully into cars outside. Some of the believers were kicked and hit while they were dragged out of the house. Elsewhere a court has ordered that officially permitted Christian books and leaflets found in a raid should be confiscated and destroyed, violating Uzbek legal procedure. (Source: Forum 18)

  Please pray that Christians in Uzbekistan will continue to be faithful in spite of the opposition. Pray especially for wisdom for church leaders when dealing with the authorities. Pray for those who have suffered for their faith in Uzbekistan. Pray the Lord will continue to spread the Gospel in this nation.

  To learn more about persecution in Uzbekistan, go to theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Authorities crack down on Christians

  Authorities in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in Uzbekistan, have renewed a crackdown on Protestant activity in recent weeks. On July 8, two Christians were handed 10-day prison terms to punish them for their religious activities. One of the imprisoned believers, Lepes Omarov, has previously endured opposition. In 2003, he was dismissed from his job as a teacher after he rejected pressure from a local ideology official to renounce his beliefs. In 2006, a criminal case was launched against him for violating the law on religion, but the case never came to trial.

  Only state-registered Muslim communities and one Russian Orthodox parish are allowed to operate in Karakalpakstan. All other religious activity in the area is illegal. Police raided many homes belonging to Protestants between May and early July, confiscating Christian books, DVDs and computers. One believer was summoned to the Prosecutor's Office in mid-June and pressured to sign a pledge to no longer keep Christian books in his home upon threat of criminal prosecution. The believer refused to the sign and was eventually allowed to go. (Source: Forum18)

  Pray for boldness and enduring faith for Christians in Karakalpakstan. Pray that they will confidently entrust themselves to Christ so that they can preach the gospel without hesitation (2 Timothy 1:7-12). Pray that the charges against the two believers will be dropped. Pray that religious freedom will be respected in Uzbekistan.

  Click here for more information about the persecuted Church in Uzbekistan.

• Christians arrested and fined

  On May 18, three Christians were given 15-day jail terms following a raid two days earlier on the Church of Christ in Tashkent. The men -- Avanesyan, Dechkov and Adambaev -- were detained immediately. Five other members of the church -- Babaeva, Son, Kim, Avakyan and Ravilova -- were fined at the same trial. Two of the five were fined 80 times the minimum monthly wage (approximately $1,850 CAD). The others were fined five times the minimum monthly wage (approximately $120 CAD). Local Christians are concerned that authorities are working to forcibly close the Church of Christ. (Source: Forum18)

  Ask God to give these believers the strength to stand firm despite the opposition. Pray that they will be bold witnesses of Christ's love and truth to their oppressors. Pray that the government of Uzbekistan will fully respect human rights.

  For more on the persecution of Uzbek Christians,click here.

• Update: Christian sentenced to prison; believers heavily fined

  Members of the Council of Churches Baptists in Uzbekistan have faced prison sentences and fines in recent weeks for refusing state registration, citing fears that it could lead to interference from the state. Unregistered religious activity in the country is banned, as is evangelizing, publishing unapproved religious literature, and attending religious meetings in private homes.

  Tohar Haydarov (27), who was arrested on charges of producing or storing drugs (click here for more information), has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Local Christians insist the case was fabricated to punish him for his religious affiliation. Tohar was found guilty on March 9 of the "preparation of a crime or attempted crime" and of the "illegal sale of narcotic or psychotropic substances in large quantities." Other Baptists were not permitted to testify on Tohar's behalf and the lawyer they hired for him was not allowed into the courtroom. Tohar has appealed the ruling and the case has been referred to the Regional Court. At last report, a date had not yet been set for his appeal.

  Thirteen Christians in Almalyk have been fined 100 times the minimum monthly salary for conducting "illegal teaching of religious doctrines without a special authorisation from a central religious organisation" (click here for more information). The Christians were each fined 3,768,000 soms (approximately $2,500 CAD) on February 23. The believers have issued a protest letter to the judge and the prosecutor's office, claiming that police committed over 60 violations of Uzbek law, including using excessive force, falsifying case files, denying them a lawyer and refusing to inform their relatives about their detention. (Source: Forum18)

  Pray that Tohar will find his strength and comfort in Christ while in detention. Pray that the ruling against him will be overturned and he will be released. Pray that the fines against the 13 Christians will be dropped. Pray that Uzbekistan's authorities will recognize religious freedom.

  For more information about the plight of Uzbek Christians, go to theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Unregistered Christians targeted

  Uzbek Christians from the Baptist Council of Churches -- a church that refuses to register with the state -- have faced arrests and physical abuse in recent weeks.

  On January 18, Tohar Haydarov (28) was arrested in Syrdarya region on charges of producing or storing drugs -- charges local Christians insist are fabricated. At the police station, Tohar was reportedly pressured and threatened to renounce his faith. When he refused, police allegedly planted drugs on him. Officials later reported finding additional drugs at his apartment in a search that was not monitored by any witnesses until after a bag of narcotics was found. Forensic tests on the drugs found on Tohar and in his apartment were conducted the same evening, raising suspicion on how precise forensic results were available so quickly. At a court date three days after his arrest, Tohar told believers that police had beaten him and forced him to sign papers. His face was swollen and he could barely walk. At last report, police were attempting to have Tohar charged under a different article of the Criminal Code which calls for a 10-20 year prison sentence.

  On January 24, a group of believers gathered for fellowship at Sergei Brislavski's home in Almalyk City were rounded up by officers and brought to the police station. Sergei's home was then searched and Bibles, songbooks and CDs were confiscated. Three of the 19 believers were roughly treated by officers. The next day, a doctor recorded in the forensic-medical examination certificates that they had bruises on their shoulders and around their necks. However, police deny assaulting the believers. Local Christians believe the police are preparing a criminal case against some of the members for repeated violations of the Religion Law. In April 2009, some of the same Christians, including Sergei's family, were fined 50 times the minimum monthly wage for "attracting believers of one confession to another" (click here for more information). (Source: Forum18)

  Pray that the truth surrounding Tohar's case will be revealed. Pray that he will look to Christ during this time. Pray that the Christians in Almalyk will echo Peter's determination to obey God regardless of what man says (Acts 5:29). Pray that they will not face charges or fines. Pray that religious freedom will be respected in Uzbekistan.

  You can find out more about the persecution believers face in Uzbekistan at theUzbekistan Country Report.

• Police raid church service, arrest believers in Tashkent

  Police interrogating members

  Pastor Vladimir Tyo Photos from Forum 18

  On August 23, approximately 20 Uzbek police officials raided the Donam Protestant Church in Tashkent, Uzbekistan during a Sunday worship service, according to an August 26 report from Forum18. The authorities claimed that the service was an "unauthorized" religious meeting and demanded that all those present submit their names and addresses. Although the church leaders presented all the necessary documents proving the church's registered status, the police ignored the documentation and continued with their threats and interrogations. A few hours later, police arrested Pastor Vladimir Tyo and seven other believers. Three of those arrested, were released within 24 hours. The next day, the court sentenced Pastor Tyo and the three others to 15 days in detention and ordered that the Christian literature and videos that were confiscated during the raid be destroyed. This is a significant setback to religious liberty in Uzbekistan as this incident marks the first time a legally registered church has been raided during worship and its leaders arrested.

  Pray for persevering faith for these believers. Pray that Uzbek Christians will continue to courageously serving Christ amid great opposition.

  To learn more about the plight of Christians in Uzbekistan,click here.

• Believers arrested and fined

  Officials have been cracking down on Christians throughout Uzbekistan in recent weeks, according to an April 8 report from Forum 18.

  Thirteen Uzbek Christians from an unregistered Baptist church in the city of Almalyk were arrested on March 15 when the Police Anti-Terrorism Department raided a home where they had gathered for worship. On April 3, the Christians were found guilty of "attracting believers of one confession to another" and fined 50 times the minimum monthly salary (approximately $1,200 CAD). The verdict states that the church members were distributing religious literature without permission and had gathered for an "illegal religious teaching meeting."

  On April 5, two believers of an unregistered Baptist church were apprehended at the Metro station in Tashkent by police officials. Ilgiz Bikkinin (66) and Vera Prokhorova (54) were questioned and their Bibles and other Christian literature confiscated. According to local believers, a case is being prepared against them for their alleged "illegal production, import, storage or distribution of religious literature" and "violations of the Religion Law."

  Ask God to provide financially for believers who have been fined. Pray that authorities will allow Christians to worship together freely. Pray that increased persecution will result in increased boldness among Uzbek believers (Acts 4:29-31).

  To learn more about the plight of Uzbek Christians,click here.

• Christians under fire

  Six Christians were detained after police raided a home in the town of Kurgantepe, Andijan region, Uzbekistan, where believers had gathered to share a meal together, according to a March 18 report from Forum 18. Three Christians were detained at the Kurgantepe Rehabilitation Centre for Homeless Persons for not having their identification documents with them. One was released on March 6 for health reasons while the other two were released on March 13. Three other believers were sentenced to 15-day jail terms for allegedly violating procedures for teaching religious doctrines. At last report, they were being held at the Temporary Detention Centre of Kurgantepe Police Department.

  On March 11, Roman Tsoi, a member of the Korean Baptist Church, was handed a 10-day jail term for "violating the procedure for arranging and holding gatherings, meetings, street marches and demonstrations" in the country's capital, Tashkent. The charge comes after approximately 20 officials barged into the church on March 6 during a prayer meeting, reportedly searching for foreign missionaries. The believers were told that they needed to obtain special permission to gather together on days other than Sunday and could not meet later than 10:00 p.m. At last report, Tsoi was being held at the Tashkent City Police Department's Detention Centre.

  According to Russian Ministries, the persecution of Christians is increasing throughout Uzbekistan. Officials often charge believers with fabricated violations of the country's religion law or accuse Christians of attempting to start an uprising.

  Pray that the imprisoned believers will be released. Ask God to give Uzbek Christians the endurance to stand firm despite the opposition.

  To find out more about the persecution of Christians in Uzbekistan,click here.

• Update: Uzbek Christian released Aimurat Khayburahmanov, a Christian arrested and detained on charges of terrorism in the automonous region of Karakalpakstan on June 14 (click here for more), was released on September 26, according to a September 30 report from Forum 18. The Nukus City Criminal Court ruled that the "religious extremism" charges against Khayburahmanov be dropped and he was amnestied on the charges of teaching religion without official approval. Praise the Lord for this brother's release.