Uzbekistan

For the seventh consecutive year Uzbekistan remains the highest ranked country on the WWL of all Central Asian states. The total number of points has risen considerably compared to last year. The regime is fighting several Islamic movements, but seems foremost to be pre-occupied by the thought of staying in power.

For Christians in the region's most populous country practicing their faith has become difficult, though the Russian Orthodox Church seem to be less affected. All activities of unregistered churches are strictly forbidden both inside and outside the churches. Youth activities are forbidden, outreaches are forbidden, seminars and training are forbidden. Private Bible studies are being tolerated, but those meetings are always in danger of being closed down. The strict monitoring of all Christian activities continues and has even been intensified. Though it is fair to say that registered churches have a somewhat better standing, they nonetheless also have suffered an increasing number of raids, church members were fined and underwent harassment by the authorities. Especially youth activities are targeted with officials intimidating young believers, often instilling a fear of taking part in church meetings in them. Additionally, when brought to court, a fair treatment is no more than a far dream for anyone, including Christians.

One of the main reasons for raiding churches is the confiscation of literature. The authorities will take any kind of Christian literature such as Bibles, hymn books or commentaries along with DVDs and computers with them. Through this entire libraries of churches, collected under extremely difficult circumstances, are taken away, leaving the churches and their leaders with almost nothing. Neither importing Christian books and literature nor printing them within the country is legally possible. As the state also controls the media and blocks websites with religious content, it is difficult for believers to obtain Bibles and other materials in any form. During the last ten years, only a single church was granted registration.

The government policy of not just fining Christians, but also giving them short term prison sentences of 3 to 15 days, continues. The number of Christians undergoing such treatment has increased considerably. The raids and threats are not limited to a certain area of the country, but are reported from the capital Tashkent as well as rural areas, from Western Karakalpakstan to the Eastern Ferghana Valley. And it is not only the government which is hostile towards the Christian minority.

Societal pressure on believers (especially MBBs) is huge. Other religious groups and so-called Mahalla committees are constantly observing the believers and reporting on them. Neighborhood, family and Islamic clergy are the main sources of harassment. In several cases, MBBs have lost their jobs, once their faith became known to the public. In TV programs and talk shows, but also in newspapers and radio programs, believers are frequently portrayed in a very negative way. In some cases, as Christians were exposed on TV, the audience was warned of them thus causing employers to fire their Christian employees. This way several families have lost their source of income.

The outlook for the Uzbek Christians is not bright. Authorities have started to tighten their grip on all churches. Societal hostility against them is growing, fanned by negative TV reports. At the same time, teaching their believers is an increased challenge for local pastors.

Uzbekistan country profile »