Churches are often raided, and attendees may be threatened, arrested, or fined.
bottom"The constant danger and pressure for my faith and ministry exhausted me. I could hardly meet anyone or help people as a pastor."
– Azamat*
Uzbekistan is a former Soviet state still ruled by an authoritarian government that heavily monitors the population, especially religious groups. A country expert shared that in one part of Uzbekistan, “Every pastor and his family were surveilled by about 30 people. Practically every step was watched.”
The historic Russian Orthodox churches experience the least persecution from the government, but they are not permitted to share their faith with the rest of the Uzbek population. All other Christian communities face some sort of monitoring and pressure. Churches that are not approved of and registered by the state are often raided by the police, with people arrested, threatened, and fined for having an illegal meeting.
The vast majority of people in Uzbekistan are Muslim, and new Christian believers from Muslim families bear the brunt of persecution—from both the state and from their own families and communities. It’s perceived as a betrayal to leave Islam and brings great shame on the family. These new believers may be threatened, locked away, divorced, disowned, or physically abused.
Women who have converted from Islam can face isolation, house arrest, kidnapping, forced marriage, divorce, verbal abuse, and sexual violence. Women and girls can be targeted as a way of inflicting wider harm on families.
Church leaders are commonly targeted by the authorities to instill fear into whole Christian communities. They can be fined, detained, beaten, denied exit visas to leave the country, or put under house arrest for offences such as holding an “illegal” gathering, having Christian literature, or a worship song on their smartphone.
– For God to help targeted Christians persevere and be witnesses to Christ’s love.
– That unregistered churches will not be targeted or harassed by authorities.
– For God to be with converts from Islam pressured by their families and communities.
Open Doors strengthens the church in Central Asia by providing relief aid, Bibles, ministry training, prayer support, vocational training and business microloans, as well as projects such as rehabilitation centres.
