Pastor Faces Up to Three Years in Prison

Mahmud Karabaev, pastor of the Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in the Uzbek town of Jizak (Jizzakh), faces up to three years in prison if convicted of "participation in the activity of an illegal religious organization."  According to a November 12 report from Forum 18, the charges against Karabaev stem from an informal meal he had with church members in his home on October 25.  Officers from the police, secret police officers and the prosecutor's office sealed the premises and ordered those present to give a written statement on the reason for their attendance.  While Uzbek law forbids any religious activity by unregistered churches, Karabaev insists they were merely drinking tea together. "It appears that believers are no longer permitted to visit each others' houses," he told Forum 18.

Ask God to give Pastor Karabaev wisdom as he seeks the Lord's direction for him and his church. Pray that he will not be convicted of the charges and that he will be free to continue to minister to his flock. Ask God to open doors for these believers to meet; not only for the occasional meal, but for consistent worship services.

For more information on Uzbekistan and the challenges facing Uzbek Christians, click here.
(Source: Forum 18)

Uzbekistan Information

  • Current Ministry Project

    VOMC has been working with project partners over the past couple of years to affirm and equip Christian women for continued ministry and to encourage unity among them.

    Project Fund: Equipping the Saints

  • Country Information

    Population
    31,360,836 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Uzbek (83.8), Tajik (4.8), Kazakh (2.5), Russian (2.3) Karakalpak (2.2), Tatar (1.5), other (4.4)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (88), Eastern Orthodox (9), other (3)

    Leader
    President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (2016)

    Government type
    Presidential republic; highly authoritarian

    Legal system
    Civil law system

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Uzbekistan

    Thank you for praying on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Uzbekistan who are undergoing severe mistreatment by those governing over them. Ask the Lord to remind these persevering believers that they are truly His beloved children. As their Heavenly Father, He is the One who governs their souls and eternal destiny. May they have a heightened awareness of His abiding presence, everlasting love, help in times of trouble – and whatever else they specifically need – as conveyed through the infallible promises of His powerful Word.

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Uzbekistan News

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    The demolition of a Council of Churches Baptist building.
    Photo: Baptist Council of Churches

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    Read more...

  • Proposed Law Introduces New Punishments for Religious Education
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    Children in Uzbekistan.
    Photo: Flickr / eatswords (cc) 

    A draft law, which is purported to "further strengthen the rights of children," recently passed its first reading in Uzbek parliament. However, the proposed legislation seeks to punish parents or guardians who allow their children to receive "illegal" religious education before reaching the age of 18.

    Read more...

  • Easter Worship Services Raided
    Entry to a building; a pillar with intricate carvings is in the foreground.
    Pray for wisdom as Uzbek Christians gather.
    Photo: VOMC

    While members of the Baptist church in Karshi, Uzbekistan, were gathered for worship on Easter Sunday, April 9th, police broke open the door and forced their way inside. Using electrical prods, they incapacitated some of the attendees while others cried and prayed. Ten members, including young people, were taken to the police station where they were held in custody until mid-afternoon. The detained believers were released after records of offence were drawn up against them.

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  • Christian Fined for Distributing Magazines
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    This past Christmas, a neighbourhood celebration in Uzbekistan was hosted by Tatyana Akhmadiyeva, a member of a local Baptist church. At the event, she offered Christian magazines to 15 of her neighbours. Local authorities received a report about the distribution and summoned Tatyana for questioning. She was told that the publications had been imported illegally, since they had not been evaluated by the "Struggle with Extremism and Terrorism Department." As a result, the officials confiscated the magazines, which they claimed were unlawfully distributed, and fined Tatyana the equivalent of two weeks' average wages.

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