Uzbekistan Christian Faces Possible 15-Year Prison Sentence for Reading “Prohibited” Christian Literature

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By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent ASSIST News Service

UZBEKISTAN (ANS) — Protestant Karakalpakstan north-west Uzbekistan fs criminal trial July charges teaching religion official approval, establishing participating dubbed “religious extremist” organization.

Uzbekistan located Central Asia, north Afghanistan.

According story Forum 18’s Mushfig Bayram, news service learned fm investigator Bahadur Jakbaev.

One charges Aimurat Khayburahmanov fs – establishing participating “religious extremist” organization – carries penalty 15 ys imprisonment. Jakbaev denied reports local Protestants reaching Forum 18 Khayburahmanov beaten prison se June 14 arrest. claimed health “fine.”

According Forum 18, Karakalpakstan Region operates harsh religious policy, state-controlled Muslim non-Russian Orthodox activity bg criminal offence.

Asked wt behavior Khayburahmanov’s activity characterizes “extremist,” Jakbaev told Forum 18 tt gathered people home read “prohibited” Christian literature, determined Karakalpakstan Religious Affairs Committee.

“The Bible prohibited Uzbekistan, te Christian books tt are,” Jakbaev told Forum 18.

Asked Forum18 “prohibited” books Khayburahmanov reading, Jakbaev refused say. tt Religious Affairs Committee expert analysis fd banned. insisted tt imprisonment harsh punishment reading “prohibited” Christian books.

Jakbaev told Forum 18 Khayburahmanov bn charged articles Criminal Code. Article 229-2, wh punishes teaching religion wt proper education permission sentence te imprisonment.

The Article 244-2, 1, wh punishes establishing participating “religious extremist” organization sentence bn 15 ys imprisonment.

Local Protestants believe Khayburahmanov bg prosecuted allow police lr charge ar Nukus-based Protestant, Jandos Kuandikov.

“Actually police mainly trying Jandos prison,” Protestant Khayburahmanov told Forum 18. added, “Aimurat wd tn considered Jandos’ accomplice.”

The Protestant told Forum 18 police allow visits Khayburahmanov days earlier.

“I heard Aimurat beaten times forced write statement implicating Jandos,” said. Khayburahmanov’s body “covered wh bruises” beatings, Protestant told.

Jakbaev, investigator, denied tt police allowed visits Khayburahmanov isolation cell. “His friend father visit him,” told Forum 18.

Forum 18 reported police officers raided Kuandikov’s home Nukus June 14, claiming conducting identity check. Ah Kuandikov home, Khayburahmanov there, helping Kuandikov family prepare local wedding.

After Kuandikov returned house, ad police documents authorizing identity check. house search lasted 9 p.m. Police confiscated books, notebooks, videocassettes weddings computer. Kuandikov’s passport. Kuandikov, Khayburahmanov sl relatives we tn police station, ty we questioned. Khayburahmonov freed 1 a.m. nt day.

Forum 18 news service tried fd Karakalpakstan’s Religious Affairs Committee se Christian books prohibited Uzbekistan, phone calls committee we answered.

Forum 18 sd answered phone government’s Religious Affairs Committee capital city Tashkent refused answer questions Khayburahmanov’s arrest forthcoming trial. told Forum 18 ge telephone interviews, hung phone up.

One Protestant told Forum 18 tt Kuandikov’s passport, confiscated property sl returned him. passport confiscated police officer named Fayzulla (last ne unknown).

“He ad Fayzulla passport back,” Protestant told Forum 18. “But Fayzulla told tt Bahadur Jakbaev, investigator Aimurat’s case, it.” Protestant sd tt Kuandikov feels “kicked ad le football” authorities.

Jakbaev claims tt gn Kuandikov’s passport local police. “Kuandikov contact local police talk them,” told Forum 18.

Asked Forum 18 criminal charges bg brought Kuandikov well, Jakbaev administrative charges brought him. refused specify exactly charges.

Meanwhile, Protestants spoke condition anonymity told Forum 18 tt Protestant congregation central city Samarkand bn facing renewed harassment fm officials. Ty sd tt officials Prosecutor’s Office visited church ms homes se July, threatened summoned tm questioning.

“As ty nr tr summonses writing church refuse go,” Protestant told Forum 18. “But there’s guarantee tt ty won’t seize people street.”

Forum 18 head Uzbekistan’s Jewish community, Chief Rabbi Abe David Gurevich, finally left Uzbekistan June 5 ar Justice Ministry refused renew accreditation wife Malka country. Tr visas expired.

“His return country depends wr visa Uzbek authorities,” Jewish representative told Forum 18.

The news service Russian-born Gurevich, carries United Israeli passport, wd Uzbekistan se 1990. refusal allow continue wg te despite appeal Justice Ministry signed April nearly 90 Tashkent’s Jewish community.

For background, Forum 18’s Uzbekistan religious freedom survey www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=777.

Editor’s note Dan Wooding, Assist News Serve: clarification, ANS received written permission fm Forum 18 Service re-work stories reach wider audience.