Uzbekistan Threatens Church Demolition In Crackdown
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
URGENCH/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Members of a thriving Baptist church in western Uzbekistan say local authorities have begun demolishing their worship facility as part of a broader crackdown on devoted Christians.
Footage obtained by Worthy News on Thursday showed a bulldozer damaging part of a Council of Churches Baptist building in Urgench, the capital of the Central Asian nation’s Khorazm Region.
Christians said they had received all the necessary building permits to construct a new church building to accommodate the growth in church members.
The congregation reportedly purchased a plot of land and began constructing the building along with other facilities in the same vicinity.
Yet sources familiar with the situation Worthy News that “Unbeknownst to the Christians,” a civil suit had been filed against the church.
“At the court hearing, which took place on April 25th, the judge ordered the demolition of the building – along with the home of a church member that was being built on the same property. As the Christians had not been informed of the hearing, they couldn’t represent themselves in court,” confirmed Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), the Christian advocacy group closely following the case.
“More than a month later, the order came into effect. The resulting demolition unexpectedly began on July 30 but was halted when the church members announced they would file a complaint against the decision,” VOMC told Worthy News.
DESTRUCTION RESUMES
“A week later, the destruction resumed, but it was delayed again on August 8 after numerous believers further protested the action. While the teardown efforts have ceased at present, officials told the former landowner that they are ‘determined to complete the demolition sooner or later, ‘” VOMC added.
The reasons for the demolition order have been unclear. According to Christians familiar with the situation, one official claimed it was due to “a tax issue” but refused to give any details.
“Additionally, while the judge referred to the land as “arable” (suitable for cultivation of crop), and thus disqualified for construction development, no action has been taken against the buildings surrounding the worship facility,” commented VOMC.
Worthy News learned that church members have described the land parcel as “full of buildings and construction work,” suggesting no farming initiatives have been planned for the area.
“Pray that the Lord would provide these church leaders and congregation members His divine peace, strength, and direction as they determine their next action steps,” VOMC told its supporters in a prayer appeal.
The Uzbek government has “relentlessly oppressed Christians, particularly those who belong to unregistered fellowships,” VOMC explained.
Uzbekistan’s “authoritarian regime“ continues to restrict religious freedom through a Religion Law that requires all religious groups to register to engage in religious activity, Christians said.
WORLD WATCH LIST
Advocacy group Open Doors placed Uzbekistan 25th on its annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it says Christians face most persecution due to their faith in Christ.
“Although all Christians experience some pressure, officially registered churches, such as the Russian Orthodox Church, experience less scrutiny from the government as they don’t tend to engage with the Uzbek population and are seen as less of a threat,” Open Doors said in a recent assessment.
“Non-traditional churches, however—especially those who have been unable to obtain registration—are particularly prone to police raids, threats, arrests and fines. Baptist, Evangelical, and Pentecostal groups are most at risk; in fact, they’re prone to being viewed as “extremists” by the government, which suspects them of being spies trying to destroy the government.”
Uzbekistan, a mainly Muslim republic that emerged as an independent state when Soviet Union rule ended in 1991, has come under pressure to improve the rights of Christians and others deemed dangerous to the autocratic leadership.
After authoritarian President Islam Karimov, who ruled from 1989 until he died in 2016, there was hope his successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, would improve the rights of Christians and other minorities and critical thinkers.
His government has highlighted its commitment to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, including to “strengthen and guarantee human rights,” which apparently include those of Christians.
The government says Mirziyoyev has addressed “longstanding civil and human rights issues head-on.”
STAGNATION REMAINS
However, Christians and others suggest that current actions against Christians and other perceived threats make clear he has yet to initiate serious liberalization to lift his nation out of international isolation and economic stagnation.
Uzbekistan has relied on cotton, gas, and gold exports to maintain its rigid, state-controlled economy. The European Union is trying to buy its fossil fuels to bypass Russia.
Christians comprise at least 9 percent of the country’s predominantly Muslim population of nearly 37 million, according to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
“Christians are a tiny minority in this predominantly Muslim culture,” confirmed Open Doors.
“And Indigenous believers who come from Muslim backgrounds face severe pressure for their faith from their families, local communities, and the authorities,” the group stressed.
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