The state heavily controls religion in Uzbekistan. The Russian Orthodox Church has a degree of freedom, but Protestants are branded as “extremists” who need to be controlled, and even eliminated. Church services are in constant danger of disruption, and members face harassment and arrests for holding private prayer meetings or possessing ‘illegal religious literature’. Sharofat Allamova was sentenced to one-and-a-half years of “corrective labor” in April 2013 for handing out copies of the New Testament and DVDs of the Jesus film.
PRAY:
- For Uzbek brothers and sisters who are detained, fined and even beaten for owning Christian materials
- For long-term prisoner Tohar Haydarov, imprisoned in 2010 for 10 years
- For wisdom for Open Doors workers and partners as they strengthen the church through livelihood training and spiritual encouragement.
Quick Facts About Uzbekistan:
Leader: President Islam Karimov
Government: Authoritarian republic
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Authoritarian republic
Main Religion: Islam
Population: 28.7 million (210,000 Christians)
Source of persecution: Dictatorial paranoia
Source of persecution: Dictatorial paranoia