Baptist Church Faces Harassment

On November 10, a new religion law came into effect in Turkmenistan, making all unregistered religious activity illegal. Penalties for breaking the law include up to one year of "corrective labour." The only religious communities who have been able to be registered are Sunni Muslims and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Forum 18 reported on December 9 that this new law put to use when police raided a Baptist service in Balkanabad on November 30. Everyone, including children, were taken to the police station. They were told that the first two times they break the law, they will face a fine equal to ten times the minimum wage. After that, they will face criminal charges. One of the women was threatened that her children would be taken from her.
 

 Saparmurat Niyazov
Saparmurat Niyazov
President of Turkmenistan

  
The Baptists in Balkanabad had faced harassment and fines before the introduction of the new religion law, but there are fears that this incident may be an indication of increasing pressure with the legal backing of the new regulations.

Pray for a heart of endurance in the midst of these struggles. Pray for strength these believers and wisdom for parents, as they seek to raise their children in the Christian faith in spite of the opposition which they face.
 

  • 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

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    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

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