Release International

An Uzbek court has given three Christians 15-day jail sentences – just two days after police and other officials raided their church in the capital Tashkent.

Assistant Pastor Artur Avanesyan and two other church members were sent to prison little more than 48 hours after the raid on the Church of Christ, which is fully registered. Five other members were given hefty fines, two more than 80 times the minimum monthly wage in Uzbekistan. Christian literature confiscated on May 16 has been destroyed.

Prosecutors brought many charges against the eight, including being in possession of works 'promoting national, ethnic, racial or religious hatred' and 'resisting' police.

The swift and harsh judgments handed down to the eight Christians have prompted fears that the Uzbek authorities have started targeting Christians for short-term detentions, a trend which was evident last year and which appears to have resumed. The Church of Christ in Tashkent has now been sealed and its power cut off.

Uzbekistan's authoritarian regime requires all religious groups to be officially registered – but most applications are denied. Unregistered groups are illegal.

(Sources: Forum 18, International Christian Concern)

• Ask God to reveal His purposes clearly to the eight Church of Christ members.
• Pray that the Uzbek authorities' apparent campaign to clamp down on even registered churches will end.

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