On two separate occasions in recent weeks, Baptist congregations meeting for prayer in private homes in Turkmenistan were raided by police and ordered to disband.
On July 23, police burst into the home of Asiya Zasedatelevaya in Turkmenabad, where ten to fifteen Baptist meet regularly for Bible study. They began to interrogate Asiya, even though she is disabled and unable to hear or speak. They confiscated all her literature and demanded to know where she got it from. When she did not reveal her source, one of the officers hit her across the head with her Bible while another struck her in the face. They then threatened to hang her. Asiya called on the authorities to return her literature.
The next weekend, plain clothes officers broke up the Sunday morning worship of a registered Baptist congregation in the eastern Turkmenistan town of Mary. One of the officers identified himself as Eziz Agaev from the anti-terrorism and organized crime department. Those present were videotaped and then taken to the police station where men, women and children were interrogated. The church insists that it is covered under its denominational registration, but the police demanded that they sign statements agreeing that they were meeting illegally and would no longer attend services. |
President Saparmurat Niyazov |
On July 1, Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov issued a declaration that, "we have one religion and unique traditions and customs, and there is no need for people to look beyond these." Since that declaration, there appears to be increased pressure on religious minorities in this predominantly Muslim country.
Pray for these and other Christians in Turkmenistan suffering under the oppression of a government controlled by a dictatorial personality cult.
For more information on Turkmenistan and the persecution facing the Church there, click here.
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