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Tajikistan

• No New Churches Allowed

  

  In late May, Protestant church leaders in Tajikistan were summoned to a meeting with Sulaymon Davlatzoda, the chair of the State Committee for Religious Affairs and Regulation of Traditions, Ceremonies and Rituals. During the meeting, they were informed that the government would no longer be registering any new churches. "We will keep the figure of registered churches unchanged from now on," Sulaymon told them. He further went on to remind the church leaders that there are to be no religious activities for those under 18 years of age, including their participation in any religious camps.

• Fines for Bible Translation

  

  Over the past six months, the leaders of four different churches in Tajikistan have received huge fines because they were part of a plan to create a new Tajik translation of the Bible. According to some Tajik Christians, the current translations available in their language use archaic words and sometimes the translation is unclear. In response to the need, these churches arranged to have a new translation made through Linguatec, a translation company.

• Pastor Released Early

  

  In April 2017, Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov was arrested and charged with "singing extremist songs in church and so inciting religious hatred." In July of that year, he had been sentenced to three years in prison (read more). We are thankful to report that Pastor Bakhrom was released on December 17th, more than three months early.

• Clampdown on Christianity

  

  Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

• Clampdown on Christianity

  

  Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

• Clampdown on Christianity

  

  Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

• Clampdown on Christianity

  

  Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

• Arrested and Fined for Evangelism

  

  Ten Christians were arrested by security police in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan on August 7th. The group was distributing Christian literature in Russian, Tajik and various local languages when they were detained. According to a ministry partner of Release International, the believers were later released but fined $1,000 by a court. Since they had no money, a Tajik church paid the fine for them.

• Church Leader in Solitary Confinement
  
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  A Tajik church leader who was serving a three-year sentence for "singing extremist songs in church and so inciting religious hatred" has been moved to a prison located 350 kilometres from his home and placed in solitary confinement. Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov was sentenced in July under the Tajik Criminal Code (Article 189). A previous report on the arrest and sentencing of this church leader can be found here.

• Pastor Imprisoned for Three-Year Term

  
  Photo: Flickr/Anton Ruiter (cc)

  In early July, Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Khujand City Court in Tajikistan's Sogd Region for allegedly "singing extremist songs in church and inciting religious hatred." Officials have threatened the pastor's family, friends and church members with reprisals if they reveal any details of his case, trial or imprisonment.