Christians in Central Asia are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground in their countries.
Pastors in the underground church have been describing their ordeal to Release International, who have launched an appeal to help the church in Central Asia.
Handing out tracts
Security police in Tajikistan arrested and fined ten Christians in August for handing out gospel literature. The group had gone to the Pamir mountains to give out tracts. They were fined more than most Tajiks would earn in six months – about £750.
In neighbouring Kazakhstan, a new religious survey found that, in 2017, 263 people were punished for hosting religious meetings, offering religious literature and other offences. The authorities prosecuted 30 Christians, mostly Protestants, for sharing their beliefs.
Pentecostal and Baptist churches were among those that faced a total ban on religious activities for three months. That continued into 2018, with almost 80 prosecutions within the first six months.
