Uzbekistan continues to police religious meetings

YUKORI-CHIRCHIK, Uzbekistan — Uzbekistan continues punishing people exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief without state permission. In one incident, police and the National Security Service secret police raided Protestants meeting in the home of Natalya Kim in Yukori-Chirchik. They claimed that a bomb was in the home, local Protestants said. 

While searching for the alleged bomb, police confiscated Christian books and a laptop. Subsequently 14 members of the unregistered Protestant church were fined for an “unsanctioned meeting in a private home.” 

The verdict was supplied after the legally required time, thus preventing an appeal being lodged. Kim herself was given the largest fine, of 60 times the minimum monthly salary. Investigator Farhod Raimkulov said, “When many people gather in a certain place, it is the local police officer’s duty to inspect and see what is happening.” When asked whether the police can or should raid Raimkulov’s home when he holds a party or some other event, he said he was not part of the raid on Kim’s home.