Galkynysh, Turkmenistan — Narmurad Mominov, a Protestant leader from Galkynysh in Lebap Region of eastern Turkmenistan, was fined two weeks’ average local wages in late February after police raided a private home, local Protestants said.
Many of those present were held until the early hours of the morning, while some were pressured to renounce or change their faith. One who did so was told to “repent” publicly in the mosque.
During a search police had found a copy of the New Testament and blamed Mominov for giving it to the homeowner. Local Protestants had feared that he could have been given as much as a 15-day jail term.
One Baptist homeowner in the city of Mary told police who seized four hymnbooks from her guests: “Who can forbid us from praying? Who can forbid us from inviting others as guests?” (F18)
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