Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin – No. 250 – Wed 10 Dec 2003

——————————- TURKMENISTAN: FROM BAD TO WORSE ——————————-

Turkmenistan is a former Soviet Central Asian state. It lies north of Iran and Afghanistan and south of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. Its population is 91% Muslim, with only 2.6% Christian, mostly Orthodox. The nation is ruled with Soviet style oppression by President Saparmurat Niyazov, a totalitarian nationalist dictator who has created a personality cult around himself. Turkmenistan has a population of 5 million, and they have little chance to hear the gospel. Those who share the gospel do so at great risk to their life and liberty.

By law in Turkmenistan, churches must have government registration. But to apply for registration a church must have at least 500 adult members (over the age of 18) in a given locality. That makes it impossible for any group other than Sunni Muslim or Russian Orthodox to achieve registration. Unregistered groups are harassed and persecuted, and their members are threatened, fined and bullied by the KNB (formerly KGB). In 1999 the Turkmenistan government declared its intention to ‘strangle’ minority faiths. All foreign Christians were expelled and the persecution of national believers, especially ethnic Turkmen, intensified intolerably. Evangelicals have been beaten, imprisoned, tortured and driven into exile. However, the situation is set to grow immensely worse.

On 10 December 2003 Turkmenistan replaced its highly restrictive 1991 religion law with an even more repressive version. All unregistered religious activities are now illegal and punished as criminal offences. Anybody being punished for a second time in the space of a year will face ‘a fine of between ten and thirty average monthly wages, or corrective labour for a term of up to one year, or deprivation of freedom for a term of up to six months, with confiscation of illegally received means’.

One Protestant told Forum 18 (a religious liberty monitoring body) that church members are concerned about the new law, but are still meeting, as inconspicuously as possible to try to avoid problems. A Baptist believer in Turkmenistan told Forum 18, ‘The rulers of Turkmenistan are not in charge. God is still in his place.’

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* change in Turkmenistan, either through a change of leader or the transformation of President Niyazov.

* God to put an umbrella of protection over the Christians as they meet together – may they simply not be seen, and not be heard.

‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.’ (Acts 4:29) A prayer of Peter (AD 30), and of a Turkmen evangelical leader (AD 2003).

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THANK AND PRAISE GOD FOR:

* EGYPT (RLP 244): On 3 December an order was given for Mariam Girguis Makar (30) to be released on bail. Though she has not as yet been released, the authorities insist the procedures are going through and she will soon be free and reunited with her family. Continue to pray for these Egyptian Christians as the charges against them still stand.

* PAKISTAN (RLP 243): Shabhaz Bhatti’s name has been taken off the Exit Control List. He still needs our prayers for his safety as he pursues security and rights for Pakistan’s religious minorities. Pray especially for Pakistan’s Christians over Christmas.

* SUDAN: Peace talks have resumed in Kenya. On 5 December a delegation of Southern leaders visited Khartoum for the first time in 20 years. They received a ‘tumultuous reception’ (BBC). This is all God’s work in answer to the prayers of many. Pray for God to protect the peace process and bless it with success.

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ———————————————————— FROM BAD TO WORSE IN TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan is a majority Muslim, former Soviet, Central Asian nation. The president, Saparmurat Niyazov, is a totalitarian nationalist dictator who rules with Soviet-style oppression. Only 2.6% of the population are Christian, mostly Russian Orthodox. All religious groups must register with the government, but to do so they must have 500 adult members in a given location. This makes registration impossible for all but Sunni Muslims and Russian Orthodox. From 10 November a new religion law has made any unregistered religious activity illegal. In past years evangelicals have suffered threats, harassment, fines, beatings, detention, torture and exile. Now they also face criminal charges and imprisonment. Please pray for God to change this dreadful situation.

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.

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