Believers arrested and fined in Uzbekistanby Staff
April 28, 2009
(christiansunite.com) - Officials have been cracking down on Christians throughout Uzbekistan in recent weeks. Thirteen Uzbek Christians from an unregistered Baptist church in the city of Almalyk were arrested on March 15 when the Police Anti-Terrorism Department raided a home where they had gathered for worship.
On April 3, the Christians were found guilty of "attracting believers of one confession to another" and fined 50 times the minimum monthly salary (approximately $1,200 CAD). The verdict states that the church members were distributing religious literature without permission and had gathered for an "illegal religious teaching meeting."
On April 5, two believers of an unregistered Baptist church were apprehended at the Metro station in Tashkent by police officials. Ilgiz Bikkinin (66) and Vera Prokhorova (54) were questioned and their Bibles and other Christian literature confiscated. According to local believers, a case is being prepared against them for their alleged "illegal production, import, storage or distribution of religious literature" and "violations of the Religion Law."
Ask God to provide financially for believers who have been fined. Pray that authorities will allow Christians to worship together freely. Pray that increased persecution will result in increased boldness among Uzbek believers (Acts 4:29-31).
Learn more about the plight of Uzbek Christians at
www.persecution.net/uzbekistan.htm.
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