By Anneta Vyssotskaia, a religious liberty advocate with a particular
concern for and involvement in Russia and the former USSR.

There have been many encouraging answers to prayer for the Church in
Central Asia: the unity amongst the Protestant churches is growing; there
are many testimonies about a growing interest in the Good News amongst
Muslims in Central Asian countries; many churches have a missionary vision
for reaching out to the neighbouring Muslim countries with the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. However, the churches in Central Asia still need daily
prayer support amidst continuing restrictions and persecution.

* UZBEKISTAN

In 2010, the churches were raided by police, numerous Christians were
detained and fined, while some were sentenced to short term imprisonment.
Pentecostal pastor Dmitry Shestakov served his fourth year in prison and
is due to be released this month. A Baptist believer, Tohar Haydarov, was
sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in a labour camp on fabricated drug
charges in March 2010. The most restrictive situation remains in the
Karakalpakastan region where none of the churches have been able to
register. The authorities insist that individual believers must get
permission even to have a Bible. A decision on new religious laws is
possible in 2011, bringing even more restrictions on religious freedom in
Uzbekistan.

* TURKMENISTAN

Religious freedom is under the strict control of the authorities in
Turkmenistan. Only a small number of churches are registered, while many
others have been unsuccessfully trying to get registration for years. None
of the ethnic Turkmen churches was registered. The unregistered churches
meet secretly in homes, often changing meeting places. Police regularly
raid the houses of believers, confiscating and destroying Christian
literature. Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was sentenced to four years in prison
and forced medical treatment under a false accusation of drug addiction in
October 2010 and is now in a labour camp that has extremely tough
conditions. He has not been allowed to have a Bible since his arrest in
August. He has diabetes and has been denied necessary medication. He was
excluded from the recent prisoner amnesty.

* AZERBAIJAN

Religious freedom has been steadily deteriorating in Azerbaijan over the
last few years. Since changes to the Religious Law were adopted in May
2009 the churches have faced problems with re-registration. Many have been
denied registration and unregistered religious activities are illegal.
Believers have been interrogated and fined when their gatherings have been
raided by police. In October 2010 police raided the house where 80 members
of an unregistered Baptist church were celebrating Harvest Festival. Four
of them were arrested and sentenced to five days in prison. On 11 December
an Adventist church was raided by police and its members were interrogated
and fined heavily. New amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences
are expected to be discussed in the parliament and if approved would
impose even heavier fines for unregistered religious activities.

* KYRGYZSTAN

In Kyrgyzstan 2010 was a year of political riots and ethnic clashes, which
affected the church as well. The church leaders hope that the highly
restrictive religious law brought in by the former president Bakiev will
be radically changed under the new government and restored at least to the
level the country had before Bakiev. The churches are actively
participating in helping those who lost their homes and businesses as a
result of ethnic clashes between Kyrgyzs and Uzbeks in Osh.

* KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan currently chairs the OSCE and proclaims religious tolerance.
The Christian community is concerned that after 2010 the legislation will
be changed imposing more restrictions on religious activities. While the
majority of religious groups worship without government interference, the
activities of unregistered minority groups, including some evangelical
churches, are considered illegal. Some pastors and church members were
fined for unregistered ‘missionary’ activities. In March 2010 new
missionary visa regulations came into force that caused growing
difficulties for some religious communities.

* TAJIKISTAN

Almost all registered churches in Tajikistan were able to re-register in
accordance with the legal requirements. However, the Union of Evangelical
Christian Baptists was denied registration as a union of churches. That
limits their rights, e.g. to open new churches. Also some smaller new
churches faced problems with registration. The majority of the population
continue to live in conditions of extreme poverty, unemployment and
frequent electricity blackouts. Many labour migrants from Tajikistan and
elsewhere in Central Asia live and work in Russia and become more open to
the Gospel there than in their home countries.

PRAISE GOD FOR –

* the growing unity amongst the churches, the growing interest in the
gospel amongst Muslims, and the missionary vision of the churches in
Central Asia.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR –

* God to sustain those who are in prison: Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev who was
jailed for four years and forced to undergo anti-drug medical
treatment, but denied his diabetes medication; Tohar Haydarov in
Uzbekistan who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in March 2010;
Pastor Dmitry Shestakov now due for release from his four-year
imprisonment, and for his subsequent care and protection.

* positive changes in religious legislation in Central Asian countries.

* the churches in Central Asia to be filled with God’s Spirit of power
and wisdom to preach the Good News to local Muslims and to reach out to
the neighbouring Muslim countries.

* labour migrants from Central Asia, that many of them will be saved where
they go away to work and bring the gospel back to their home countries.

~~~~

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
———————————————————–

LEGISLATION IN CENTRAL ASIA IMPACTS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

In 2010 the churches in Central Asia continued to experience harassment,
religious restrictions and persecution. They request prayer for positive
changes to legislation that will permit greater religious freedom in their
countries. Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was jailed for four years with forced
anti-drug medical treatment, and denied his diabetes medication. Tohar
Haydarov was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. Pastor Dmitry Shestakov
is due to be released from his four-year imprisonment this month and will
need subsequent care and protection. Meanwhile, labour migrants from
Central Asia can hear the gospel where they go away to work and bring the
Good News back to their home countries. The Central Asia churches are
experiencing greater unity and a desire to reach out to local and
neighbouring Muslims. Please pray for religious freedom and outreach.

——————–

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>.

Previous bulletins may be viewed at <http://www.ea.org.au/ea–
family/Religious-Liberty/Prayer-Postings.aspx>.