Navoi, Uzbekistan — As a Baptist family in Navoi, Uzbekistan, gathered with relatives and friends for a Sunday morning meeting for worship, 11 anti-terrorism police officers and other officials raided the Alpayev family home.
They searched the home without a warrant and went on to search the home of another church member present, seizing all the religious literature they could find. Police and other authorities keep telling him and other Baptists — including during the Aug. 17 raid — that he cannot keep his Christian books and even his Bible in his home.
Artur Alpayev’s mother (born in Uzbekistan and visiting from Israel) and a couple from Russia (the wife also born in Uzbekistan) were subsequently expelled from Uzbekistan. Fines are expected. Sadriddin, an official who introduced himself as assistant head of the Navoi anti-terrorism police, claimed he is “new in the police department, and I do not know the details.” Raids, literature seizures and fines have continued across Uzbekistan.
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