TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — Uzbekistan has confiscated Christian books from a youth group returning from Kazakhstan. An Uzbek customs official said the confiscations were a “temporary removal.” Customs officials claimed a court would decide what would happen to the literature. Baptists complained that a customs official swore at them, saying, “We are the bosses here and we will do what we like. If we need to, we’ll lock you away.”
Officials refused to provide copies of Confiscation Certificates and the group was released after being held for nine hours. Also, the head of Ukraine’s Baptist Union has been denied entry to Uzbekistan and a Protestant has been denied permission to leave, with no reasons for either action being given. In addition, two more foreign religious websites have had access from within Uzbekistan blocked.
These actions appear to be part of a policy of isolating religious believers from their fellow believers in other countries.
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