On August 15, police from the anti-terrorist branch in the north-eastern Turkmenistan town of Dashoguz (Dashhowuz) summoned church leaders from the city's registered Baptist Church for interrogation following the raid of an open-air service the previous day. According to Forum 18, the believers had just finished their worship service in the countryside outside the town and were gathering to enjoy a lunch together when police officers appeared and started questioning what they were doing. The officers then confiscated their Bibles and hymnals.
When church leaders met with the police the following day, the officers claimed that the church's national registration was not valid in northern Turkmenistan. "Individuals can only believe alone on their own at home," police told them. The church leaders were then pressured to write statements on how they became Christians and why they had Bibles. They were also pressured to sign declarations that they would not meet until the church obtained state registration. The leaders told the police, "We will continue to meet in the future as our faith does not depend on registration."
Pray for their continued boldness and determination to worship God despite the opposition of authorities. Pray that God will give wisdom and discretion to each of the church leaders.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Turkmenistan, click here.
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