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Appeal for Christians worldwide to write to Uzbek authorities

Barnabas Fund is concerned about the resurgence of official harassment of law-abiding Uzbek Christians, reports Barnabas Fund.

In recent years there has been growing persecution, with raids on church services, short jail sentences and huge fines becoming commonplace. The recent coordinated raids on Tashkent City Church of Christ (see Barnabas Fund appeal 21 May) may be evidence of a campaign by official bodies to harass and even close the church, which is one of the largest and most active churches in the Uzbek capital. This is occurring despite the fact that the church has been legally registered since 1999, has carefully followed official procedures, and has never before been accused of breaching any regulations. It had even been checked by the Justice Department of Tashkent within the last two months.

Uzbek Christians are planning to appeal to the President of Uzbekistan and other authorities, and they have requested that foreign representations be made to help their cause. We would therefore like to request that Barnabas Fund supporters add their voices to this call by writing to the Uzbek President, the Religious Affairs Committee, or the Uzbek Embassy in their own country. Please write politely and stress the damage that these actions are causing to Uzbekistan’s reputation.

Express general concern about raids on churches, arrests of pastors and other Christians, heavy fines, confiscations of church equipment and materials.

Express concern about the recent raids on Tashkent City Church of Christ

Express concern that those arrested do not appear to have broken any laws, that the police raid itself was without official warrant, and that Tashkent City Church of Christ is fully registered and does not appear to have broken any regulations.

Express a plea for Uzbekistan to maintain equal treatment for all and not to discriminate against peaceful minorities, but to treat all law-abiding citizens equitably.

President Islam Abduganievich Karimov

Email presidents_office@press-service.uz

Fax: 00 998 71 139 5325

Committee on Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan

5 Mustakillik Square,

Tashkent,

Republic of Uzbekistan, 100017

Phones: +998 (71) 239-4945 +998 (71) 239-4944

Email: info@religions.uz

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TAGS: Uzbekistan Barnabas Fund persecution Tashkent City Church of Christ President of Uzbekistan anti-Christian violence

[06/08/2010]

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