Uzbekistan: Christians Detained

Six Christians leading a service at a nursing home on March 13 were detained by police and charged with resisting police orders and violating procedures for conducting a meeting. The Baptist Christians were leading Sunday worship at the “Kindness” nursing home in Ohangaron City when police raided the service in an “anti-terror operation.”

“Police unexpectedly broke into the foyer of the nursing home during the service and halted it,” witnesses told Forum 18 News. The six Christians leading the meeting, members of an unregistered Tashkent church, told police they had permission to hold the services, but police insisted it was unauthorized.

For the next four hours, police insulted and threatened the Christians, accusing them of being traitors and spies. They searched the Christians’ car and confiscated Christian tapes, CDs, song books, notebooks, leaflets, a camera, a personal Bible and money.

Each of the six leaders was photographed, taken to the police station and asked to write a statement. When they refused, police charged them with “resisting the orders of police” and “violating procedures for conducting meetings.” The six were released after midnight and ordered to return the next day.

When the six Christians appeared at the police station the following day, they were again detained — this time for the entire day. Police told them they would have a trial hearing in a few days.