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Uzbekistan

• ''Corrective Labour'' for Teaching Doctrine

  According to a November 30 report from Forum 18, the leader of a small, unregistered Baptist church in Khalkabad, Uzbekistan, Nikolai Zulfikarov, has been sentenced to two years of "correctional labour." He was ordered to pay twenty percent of all of his earnings for the next two years as a fine. Zulfikarov was convicted of "teaching religious doctrines without special religious education and without permission from a central organ of administration of a religious organisation, as well as teaching religion privately." Zulfikarov had hosted worship services in his house for the small church consisting of only five adult members. It is yet unknown if he will appeal the sentence.

  Pray for wisdom, strength and provision for Nikolai during this time. Pray for members of this church and others in Uzbekistan facing oppression from authorities.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Uzbekistan, click here. A new video report on the family of another Uzbek Pastor sentenced to labour camp, Dmitry Shestakov, is available on VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.

• Authorities Continue Hunt for ''Wanted'' Christian

  A Christian man named Makset Djabbarbergenov (27) is the subject of a nationwide manhunt by authorities because of his religious activity in Uzbekistan, according to an October 12 report from Forum 18. According to a local police officer, Djabbarbergenov is being hunted because he held Christian meetings in his home without having an official religious community. Authorities issued a wanted poster for Djabbarbergenov more than seven weeks ago, after police raided his home in Nukus, confiscating Christian books, videos, CDs and his passport. The poster accuses Djabbarbergenov of an offence under Article 229-2 of the Criminal Code, which punishes "violation of the procedure for teaching religion" and carries a maximum term of three years' imprisonment. There have been no reports of his whereabouts since he went into hiding on October 4 in order to evade arrest. Djabbarbergenov has long faced harassment for his Christian work and he was among a group of Christians who faced administrative charges after a raid on a private home in Nukus in January.

  Pray that Makset will find refuge beneath the wings of God during this time (Psalm 57:1). Pray that Christians in Uzbekistan will be free to worship without government control.

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Uzbekistan,click here. Be sure to view a new video report entitled "Uzbekistan: Why Are Evangelicals Being Persecuted?" released this week on www.vomcanada.com.

• Crackdown on Christians in Uzbekistan Several Christians were arrested or fined in Uzbekistan in recent weeks, according to a September 18 report from Forum 18.

  On August 27, Sharofat Allamova was given a suspended prison sentence of six months in the central city of Bukhara on August 27 after police confiscated Christian literature from her in early June. She was prosecuted under Article 244-3 of the Criminal Code, which punishes "illegal production, storage, import or distribution of religious materials."

  On August 28, a Protestant pastor, Khyn-Mun Kimi, and a colleague were fined about one month's salary for "illegal" religious activity in Karakalpakstan. In a separate incident, a group of Protestants in the southern region of Uzbekistan were detained in mid-September after they "illegally" met for worship. Police confiscated religious literature and twelve of the believers face charges under the Administrative Code.

  The October edition of The Voice of the Martyrs' newsletter focuses on the persecution facing Christians in Uzbekistan. To subscribe to this free newsletter, click here.

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

• Pastor Shestakov Receives Harsher Sentence

  Pastor Dmitry Shestakov, who was given a four year labour camp sentence for his religious activity on March 9 (click here for details), has been transferred to a closed labour camp in the city of Navoi to serve the rest of his sentence. According to a June 12 report from Forum 18, the harsher punishment was handed down to Shestakov during a criminal court trial on May 25. Authorities claim it is the result of Shestakov's misbehaviour in an open work camp. The court was told that he would not "repent for the crime he has committed."

• Pastor Serikbayev Receives Two Year Suspended Sentence

  Pastor Salavat Serikbayev, who was arrested in the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan for his religious activities on April 18 (click here for more details), received a suspended sentence of two years imprisonment for "violating the procedure for teaching religion" on May 10. According to a May 10 report from Forum 18, the court banned Serikbayev from traveling abroad during the two-year period. It was also ordered that twenty per cent of any salary he earns be taken from him. Serikbayev denied the charges, claiming that the police officers who testified that they had seen him teaching religion were lying.

• Dmitry Shestakov ''Voluntarily'' Renounces Right to Appeal

  Uzbek officials claim that Pastor Dmitry Shestakov, who was scheduled to appeal his labour camp sentence on May 1 (click here for more details), has "voluntarily" renounced his right to an appeal. They claim that, citing his poor health, he begged to be transferred immediately to his place of punishment. According to a May 3 report from Forum 18, it is suspected that Shestakov was forced to sign the document against his will. Shestakov had lodged an appeal on March 16 against his March 9 sentence. On April 20, he complained to the regional court and the prosecutor's office about the delay of his appeal. The Criminal Procedure Code dictates that an appeal hearing must occur within one month of his sentence.

  Shekstakov's lawyer has repeatedly been denied access to him. It is unknown whether or not he is still detained in Prison No. 1 in Andijan.

• Recent Updates from Uzbekistan

  Pastor Salavat Serikbayev, the pastor of an officially registered Pentecostal church in Muynak city in the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, was arrested on April 18. He faces charges of "incitement to religious hatred," "running an illegal religious organization" and "distributing materials promoting religious extremism." His trial date is scheduled for May 2.

  Pastor Serikbayev was previously arrested in Karakalpakstan on February 22, 2006 for his religious activities (click here for more details) but was allowed to temporarily return home to his family.

  The charges against Pastor Serikbayev are the same as those brought against Pastor Dmitry Shestakov (click here to read more). Pastor Shestakov has appealed his labour camp sentence. The hearing into his appeal was on May 1.

• Uzbek Pastor Appeals Sentence Pastor Dmitry Shestakov has appealed his four-year work camp sentence, according to a March 23 report from Forum 18. Shestakov was arrested for his religious activities on January 21. In imposing its verdict, the court said that it would be impossible to "re-educate" Shestakov without isolating him from society. He remains imprisoned in Andijan until his appeal is heard. It has been reported that he has been banned from kneeling to pray and that his New Testament has been confiscated. In exchange, he has been offered the Koran to read. Pray that Dmitry's appeal will be successful.
• Recent Update from Uzbekistan Pastor Dmirty Shestakov, who had been taken into custody by secret service officials on January 21 (click here for more details), was sentenced to four years of exile within Uzbekistan for his religious activity, according to March 9 report from Forum 18. Two of the three charges against him were reportedly withdrawn during the trial. His defense will receive the full written verdict in a few days' time. The place of his exile has yet to be been determined.
• Police Raid Church Service On February 25, police officers burst into a church in Qarshi, Uzbekistan and disrupted a group of believers gathered for worship. According to VOMC sources, the police videotaped the service and, after it was completed, shut the doors and began questioning the believers there, asking why they had become Christians. The police confiscated literature and demanded to know who was funding the church.

  The church, led by Pastor Sergei Shandyvayev, is not registered with the government and the Christians expect to be summoned to a court hearing.

  Pray for wisdom for Pastor Shandyvayev and his congregation. Pray that the Lord will help them to boldly proclaim the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20). Pray that they will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48).

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