Police in Uzbekistan recently raided a home where Christians were meeting, allegedly searching for a bomb which was never found. Christian books and a laptop were confiscated, however, and 14 members of the church were fined for holding an "unsanctioned meeting in a private home." Natalya Kim, who was hosting the meeting, received a fine equivalent to 60 times the minimum monthly salary in Uzbekistan.
In another incident, three Christians were fined for not declaring their personal Bibles while crossing the border from Kazakhstan into Uzbekistan, and the Bibles were confiscated.
All religious literature in Uzbekistan is under tight, state censorship, and courts frequently order the destruction of religious literature. Some churches are standing against the unjust laws, refusing to register with the state since requiring registration is a violation of the international human rights agreements Uzbekistan has formally promised to implement. Recently, Christians from two separate church locations were fined for the unregistered exercise of freedom of religion or belief.
Please pray that Natalya Kim will be rewarded for exhibiting such faith and for opening up her home to Christian brothers and sisters despite the risks to her own security and safety. Pray that the Lord will protect and encourage believers who are standing against unjust laws in Uzbekistan. Pray that Christians in Uzbekistan will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4).
To learn more about the suffering Church in Uzbekistan, please visit the Uzbekistan Country Report.
