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ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

CHRISTIANS IN UZBEKISTAN SUFFER INCREASED PERSECUTION

For Immediate Release
OPEN DOORS USA
Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Coordinator
Phone: 616-915-4117
E-mail: JerryD@odusa.org
Web: www.opendoorsusa.org

SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) -- The situation of Uzbek Christians has deteriorated considerably since the demonstrations in the city of Andijan in the Ferghana Valley during the month of May.

Christians are now under much tighter control, and they are getting more “invitations” to come to the police office to answer questions and receive more fines. More frequent incidents of physical and psychological violence against Christians to force them to renounce their faith have occurred in the last few months.

“President Karimov is very afraid of losing his job,” said Esther Amado, Open Doors coordinator for Central Asia. “For this reason, he deals harshly with everyone whom he considers a threat to his regime. During these past months, many congregations have lost their registration and worship services have more frequently been interrupted by the police. Not only church leaders, but everyone present in the meeting is taken to the police station to be interrogated.”

The interrogations have a more aggressive character now than before the violent crushing of the demonstrations in Andijan, which resulted in the death of hundreds of people. Amado said, “Before this happened, Christians were put under pressure to stop attending church services. Now they are pushed to renounce their faith and to turn back to Islam, because then – according to the interrogators – all their problems will be over. If a Christian does not give in, chances are high that he will lose his job. On top of that, there is pressure from relatives. They will ostracize a Christian family member. An Uzbek should remain a Muslim.”

Police officers sometimes exert extreme pressure on Christians. Kural Bekjanov, 19, was held in prison and tortured for one month this summer. Fellow inmates also beat him terribly when they found out about his Christian faith. Bekjanov’s physical and mental recovery may take years. His family has serious financial difficulties because they had to pay for Bekjanov’s food when he was detained and for medical treatment since his release.

One of the ways Open Doors supports Uzbek Christians is through the seminars called “Standing Strong Through the Storm” (SSTS). During these seminars, participants study the biblical view on persecution and listen to testimonies of Christians who have remained faithful in spite of their hardships.

The seminar also teaches Uzbek Christians to be prepared for interrogations. “We have added a juridical component to the seminars,” says Amado. “Many police officers ‘bought’ their job or got it because they knew the right people. They shout many threats and state that people have broken the law, but they can’t even indicate the article they refer to. That is why it is very useful if Christians know the law when they are under such pressure.”

According to Amado, some Uzbeks still convert to Christianity. “We have had a time of great revival, but now the underground church is growing more slowly than before. Many Christians are keeping a low profile and evangelize less because of the higher risks. Muslims are also more cautious before they contact Christians and inquire about their faith.”

An estimated 200 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with another 200 to 400 million facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors, celebrating 50 years of service to persecuted Christians in 2005, serves and strengthens the Persecuted Church in the world's most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (524-2535) or go to our USA Web site at www.opendoorsusa.org. To request a complimentary six-month subscription to our monthly newsletter Frontline Faith, call 888-5-BIBLE-5 or register on-line.

(For more information or to set up an interview, contact Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117).

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