Uzbekistan (MNN) — There's more evidence Uzbekistan is
taking a more hard-line approach to Christians.
The Voice of the Martyrs received photographs of police
officers interrogating believers in and around a church in Qarshi ("Karshy"),
Uzbekistan. According to VOM sources police burst into the service on February
25, 2007, confiscated literature and demanded to know who was funding the
church.
Police also brought video cameras to video tape the worship
service. When police started to film, Pastor Sergei Shandyvayev didn't panic,
but simply continued the worship service. After the service finished, the
officers shut the doors and began to question the believers gathered there,
especially asking why they had become Christians. Pastor Shandyvayev's church
is not registered with the Uzbek government. The Christians expected to be
summoned to court for a hearing.
Police have started cracking down on unregistered churches
in the country. Pray God gives Christians in this area wisdom and protection as
they face persecution. Pray that they might even have opportunities to witness
to police and court officers as they are questioned.
