Ashgabat , imams, police and intelligence services ban Bibles and Christian songs
Ashgabat (
AsiaNews/F18 ) - Police and Secret Service agents in Dashoguz , a city in the
north of Turkmenistan , have carried out a raid against a group of believers of
the "Church of the Light of the East" , a local Protestant community
. Special
forces raided two houses of prayer, and confiscated religious materials
including Bibles . An
official of the Department of Religious Affairs, who is also an imam at the
local mosque , turned to the pastor of the Pentecostal community stating that
his faith " is wrong" and warned him to convert to Islam . "Christianity
is a mistake - added the Muslim leader - it's not a religion, but a myth."
The
police also threatened a Turkmen believer to 15 days in prison and deportation.
To
a group practicing hymns for Sunday service, the officers stated that "
the songs of praise to God are banned here".
The
Norwegian Forum 18 news website ,
committed to documenting violations of religious freedom in Central Asia ,
reports that the number and scope of fines against individuals and communities
who want to exercise their right to religious freedom has increased. The
restrictions on the practice of faith is even targeting Muslims - the vast
majority in the country - with the state that continues to limit the number of
visas granted to the faithful who wish to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
The
community of Eastern Pentecostal Church of Light has obtained official
registration in April 2005 and was one of the first state recognized realities that
was not Muslim or Russian Orthodox to be able to worship outside of the capital
Ashgabat . However,
in recent weeks, the faithful have been the subject of repeated raids by the authorities
and the secret police, with threats of arrests and the seizure of religious
materials . During
one of these operations in a private home, the agents claimed that " it is
forbidden to sing hymns to God ," and without identifying themselves ,
they have seized the book of songs and brought the members of the community in
for "investigations " .
Meanwhile,
an increasing number of people are being incarcerated for crimes of opinion and
defense of religious freedom. News
has emerged in recent days of a Jehovah's Witness being sentenced to to 18
months' imprisonment. Suhrab
Rahmanberdiyyev, who has just turned 18 is the ninth conscientious objector to
end up in prison, where he was beaten and abused because he refused to declare
himself a Muslim and convert to Islam.
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