SYRDARYA, Uzbekistan — Police in the central Syrdarya region raided an unregistered Baptist church and are preparing to prosecute members of the church. The police confiscated religious literature for “expert analysis,” though it was bought from the registered Bible Society.
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church spoke of the difficulties his church faces in Uzbekistan.
He noted in particular a ban on missionary activity, opening Orthodox schools, and inability to get state permission for new parishes.
The state Committee on Religious Affairs refused to discuss these issues. Elsewhere, two short-term Baptist prisoners of conscience have been released. Judge Bobojonov, as he initially introduced himself, of the court which convicted the Baptists, changed his mind about what his name was after asked why the Baptists were jailed.
Police major Asliddin Mirzayev — who stopped the two Baptists — refused to explain why the men were jailed. “It’s our secret,” he said.
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