Anonymous
Editor’s note: The names of Uzbek Christians in this report are used with their permission. The 2013 Report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom designates Uzbekistan as a country responsible for “particularly severe” violations of religious freedom (http://www.uscirf.gov/reports-andbriefs/annual-report/3988-2013-annual-report.html).
Religious Repression
When for the first time one visits Uzbekistan in Central Asia, with its population of 30 million, one is not likely to think of oppression. Attractive scenes in the capital city of Tashkent, including wellgroomed lawns and massive palaces and mosques, make one think of the Orient and an ancient culture -- of everything but persecution. Nevertheless, what is hidden behind a beautiful facade is the reality of persecution of Christians. In 1991, many in Uzbekistan were enthusiastic about the break-up of the U.S.S.R. and the country’s newly acquired independence. In spite of initial joy, Christians saw the period of freedom of worship, for which they had prayed during Soviet times, quickly come to an end. Uzbek authorities observed rising numbers of indigenous Uzbek converts to Christianity and considered them to be a threat to the regime. President Islam Karimov and his government quickly curbed all freedom of worship for Evangelical Christians and denied believers the right to evangelize the indigenous population. Mission organizations and Western missionaries were forced to pack their bags and go home.
Further Restrictions Likely
At the present time, Evangelical communities in Uzbekistan that number less than 100 members are denied state registration and are forced to worship in secret (“Zakon Respubliki Uzbekistan o svobode sovesti i religioznykh organizatsiiakh # 618i, Article 8,” 1 May 1998; http://lex.uz/Pages/GetAct.aspx?lact_ id=65089). Evangelism among ethnic Uzbeks is prohibited. Uzbek authorities are working on a law that will restrict the possession of the Bible to one per household. “My impression is that authorities are not going to stop there,” stated S., one of Tashkent’s persecuted Christians who is a lawyer by training. “They are likely to require that Bibles be kept only in officially registered church buildings and not in homes.” Thus, individuals would be prohibited from owning copies of Scriptures and could read them only in private (“V Uzbekistane nachali shtrafovot’za Bibliiu v dome,” 30 April 2013, Ridus; www.ridus.ru/ news/81369).
Holding Fast In Spite of Arrests and Threats
According to Forum 18 News Service, Sharofat Allamova, a Protestant from Urgenchin north-western Uzbekistan, has been given a one-and-a-half year sentence of corrective labor, following her conviction under criminal charges brought for the “illegal production, storage, import, or distribution of religious literature” (“Uzbekistan: Criminal Conviction, Fines for Meeting at Home and Carrying Bible,” Forum 18 News Service, http://www.forum18.org/). This punishment, however, is not likely to stop Christians from worshipping God. They gather in privately owned homes, apartments in Soviet-style high rise buildings and in the open air for prayer, and Scripture reading. A., pastor of a house church in the Uzbek capital, shared: “When we gather together, we try to do it as carefully as possible, not to attract attention of neighbors and informers. We abstain from loud singing and, rather, devote time to Bible reading and prayer.” A. believes his place of ministry is in Uzbekistan. For the time being he does not consider moving his family of three to another country.
Believers Under Seige Going Public
In spite of oppression, Uzbek Evangelicals want to feel at home in their own country. They believe they should be allowed to possess Bibles and worship God freely and are ready to make the facts of persecution known to the rest of the world. Some do not mind their names being mentioned for, as they say, “We have nothing to lose.” Shakar Dosov is pastor of an Evangelical church in Gulistan, Syrdar’yinskaia Oblast’, which meets under a tent in the courtyard of his home at 61 Al’-Kharazmii Street. He openly declares, “We are so tired of being arrested, charged with religious extremism and possession of ‘extremist literature’.” For belonging to the Christian community authorities interrogated and beat both his wife Tamara and their 18-year-old daughter Ruth. Police brutality resulted in Ruth sustaining a head injury, a fact that has been documented. The local hospital refused to treat her because she was a Christian (“Spravka #298 vydannaia Rufi Dosovoi: Zakrytaia cherepno-mozgovaia travma, sotriasenie mozga,” 29 May 2011).
Shakar and Tamara Dosov’s 26-year-old son Sayidbek and 29-year-old daughter Sayora Khudayberganova were forced to flee Uzbekistan because of beatings and repeated interrogations. They were charged with illegal possession of Christian literature. According to Tamara Dosova, authorities threatened to take Sayora’s child from her. They tortured her husband, who, as a result, turned against her and threatened to place her in a psychiatric ward, a well-known practice during Soviet times when believers were considered mentally ill for having faith in God.
Shakhida Shayimova, an employee of the local bank who also attends worship services at pastor Shakar’s home in Gulistan, reported that she was interrogated by officers of the State Security Service (Sluzhba natsional’noi bezopasnosti) who threatened to have her fired because she belonged “to the ‘extremist sect.’” Shakhida had to flee her home because her father, who is Muslim, was beating her for attending Christian fellowship.
Uzbek Persecution Overlooked
One of the most troubling issues for Uzbek Christians is the attempt of the State Security Service to plant informers in their congregations. “At no time can we be sure that someone from within our house church would not report our activities to state authorities,” says pastor A. Informers within churches sow discord and foster suspicion among believers. At a time when persecution of believers in Middle Eastern countries receives the attention of the Western press, Uzbek Christians consider their story is being largely ignored. While being aware of persecution underway in China and Iran, substantial numbers of Christians in the West do not even know where Uzbekistan is located on the Map. “We want more contact with churches outside of Uzbekistan. We often feel like we are left alone. The Soviet Union with its repressive anti-religious system collapsed, but persecution of Christians continues,” says Z., leader of another house church in Tashkent. Perhaps it is time for the church in the West to become better acquainted with the persecuted church in former Soviet Central Asia and to be involved in helping fellow Christians who endure hardships for Christ’s name.