The Persecution Times » Uzbekistan
More Fines, Physical Abuse and Religious Literature Destruction in Uzbekistan
By Jeremy Reynalds Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service UZBEKISTAN (ANS) — Uzbekistan’s authorities continue to punish peaceful religious believers with fines, physical abuse and court-ordered destruction of religious literature. Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south. Prior to 1991, it was part of the Soviet Union. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Persecution, Uzbekistan
Police Assault Baptist Woman And Raid Baptist Church for Giving a Gift to a Children’s Home
By Dan Wooding Founder of ASSIST Ministries TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (ANS) — A respected news service is reporting that in Uzbekistan, Police have assaulted a Baptist women, and have also raided a Baptist church for giving a gift to a children’s home. In the first case, Forum 18 (www.forum18.org) says that Uzbekistan has levied a large fine on a Baptist in the capital Tashkent – who was allegedly physically assaulted by police – for giving a children’s Bible to a work colleague. The policeman who was said to have assaulted Galina Shemetova denied to Forum 18, a news service based in Oslo, Norway, that he had done anything wrong. Forum 18 explained that Galina Shemetova, a female member of an officially registered Baptist Church, gave a children’s … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, Persecution, Uzbekistan
Baptist jailed in Uzbekistan for 10 years as persecution escalates
By Elizabeth Kendal, Special to ASSIST News Service On 18 January Uzbek police arrested Tohar Haydarov (27), took him to a local police station and allegedly pressured him to renounce his faith. When he refused, they reportedly planted drugs in his pocket. The police took Haydarov’s keys, searched his home and reportedly found more drugs. Haydarov was subsequently detained for three days during which it is believed he was beaten and forced to sign papers. Fellow Baptists were not permitted to testify at Haydarov’s trial on 4 March. On 5 March, Haydarov’s father (who lived with Haydarov) was found dead in their home. According to the official report, he died as a result of accidental electrocution. On 9 March, Guliston City Criminal Court sentenced Haydarov to 10 years in prison … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Persecution, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Christian Faces Possible 15-Year Prison Sentence for Reading “Prohibited” Christian Literature
By Jeremy Reynalds Correspondent for ASSIST News Service UZBEKISTAN (ANS) — A Protestant from the Karakalpakstan area of north-west Uzbekistan faces criminal trial later in July on charges of teaching religion without official approval, and establishing or participating in a state dubbed “religious extremist” organization. Uzbekistan is located in Central Asia, north of Afghanistan. According to a story by Forum 18′s Mushfig Bayram, the news service learned this from the investigator in the case Bahadur Jakbaev. One of the two charges Aimurat Khayburahmanov faces – establishing or participating in a “religious extremist” organization – carries a penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment. Jakbaev denied reports from local Protestants reaching Forum 18 that Khayburahmanov has been beaten in prison since his June 14 arrest. He claimed his health is “fine.” According to Forum 18, Karakalpakstan Region … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, Muslim, Persecution, Uzbekistan
