In the latest action against unregistered churches, an unregistered Baptist church in Navoi, Uzbekistan has been banned from meeting to worship and the operator of a street library associated with the church faces possible criminal charges.
On September 27, church member Nikolai Nikulin was distributing religious books through a street library in Navoi when anti-terrorist police lieutenant Alisher Kurbanov confiscated the books. According to a report sent by the church to Forum 18, Kurbanov then banned members of the church from meeting for worship.
When confronted with the allegations from the church, Kurbanov told Forum 18, "This is not a church at all, just a religious mob." He also denied confiscating the books. "He [Nukulin] says he was giving them away for free, so I simply took them away to read them," Kurbanov claimed. "I'm very interested in these books."
Nikulin had previously spent ten days in jail on an "administrative offence" for "unlawful religious activity." Consequently, he could face criminal charges for the latest incident.
Pray for Nikolai Nikulin and the other members of the church in Navoi. Pray for wisdom and endurance as they face this opposition. Pray for Lieutenant Kurbanov and other officials opposing the Church in Uzbekistan, that they might see the truth of the Gospel and come to faith in Christ. Pray that Kurbanov really will read the books he has confiscated.
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