[Today’s Prayer] Korea VOM “Concern Growing Over Expansion of Protestant Persecution in Kyrgyzstan”

Warnings have been raised that pressure against Protestant churches in Kyrgyzstan is beginning to intensify in earnest.

Voice of the Martyrs Korea (hereafter Korea VOM) revealed an incident on April 19 in which government agents raided an unregistered Baptist house church in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, stating that “after the implementation of the new religion law, persecution against Protestant churches may expand.”

Hyun Sook Foley, representative of Korea VOM, said, “On April 19, agents from the State Committee for National Security and the State Commission on Religious Affairs attended a Sunday worship service at an unregistered Baptist church located at 1B Kerchensky Road in Bishkek.”

She explained, “Two of the agents had visited the same church last year as well, after which Elder Dmitry Vasilyevich Golovin and Elder Alexey Viktorovich Demchenko were each fined 20,000 som (approximately 330,000 won).”

(omitted)

Then on April 21, one of the agents reportedly filed charges against Elder Golovin and Elder Demchenko for participating in unregistered religious activities, and Elder Golovin submitted a petition in objection.

Representative Hyun Sook Foley stated, “Elder Golovin cited constitutional provisions guaranteeing religious freedom and argued that a private home is not a facility intended for religious purposes.”

Approximately 93% of Kyrgyzstan’s population is Sunni Muslim, while around 4% are Christians. Evangelical Christians are believed to make up less than 1% of the population.

Korea VOM reported that local Christians continue to face discrimination and pressure from family members, local communities, and Muslim leaders. Representative Foley said, “It is not uncommon for Christians to be beaten,” adding, “In small villages, Christians may be refused bus rides, unable to find employment, or even face difficulty purchasing daily necessities simply because they are Christians.”

She also added, “In some regions, Muslim leaders even refuse Christian funerals and burials.”

In particular, Korea VOM expressed concern that conditions may worsen after the passage of the new religion law last year. Representative Foley explained, “The new religion law requires all religious organizations to register with the government, and registration requires at least 500 adult founding members along with a notarized membership list.”

She continued, “In order to receive government approval, organizations must secure a legally recognized gathering place, but private homes or privately owned buildings are not recognized,” adding, “Religious organizations must re-register every ten years, and religious leaders must re-register annually.”

She warned, “There are almost no Protestant churches capable of meeting these standards. The case involving the unregistered Baptist church in Bishkek may become the first of many similar cases Protestant churches will face in the future.”

She further appealed, “The international community and the global church must pray together for all churches and believers in Kyrgyzstan.”

Source: Christian Today

“Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” (2 John 1:3)

God, we hear that a house church in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, was fined by agents from the State Commission on Religious Affairs for being an unregistered religious facility, and that beginning with this incident, pressure against churches in Kyrgyzstan is intensifying in earnest.

Please have mercy on and protect the Christians in Kyrgyzstan who continue to suffer discrimination and oppression—being beaten and unable to find work simply because they are Christians—especially amid the worsening persecution following the passage of the new religion law last year.

Under the pretense of requiring government registration for religious organizations, the law effectively restricts registration and is used as a means of persecuting churches. Please cause this evil law to be revised, and lead the leaders of Kyrgyzstan to repent of their pride and foolishness and humbly seek God’s wisdom.

God the Father of grace and mercy, even amid increasing pressure, let the churches in Kyrgyzstan continue worshiping and following You faithfully to the very end. And may the churches in Kyrgyzstan forgive those who persecute them with the love of Jesus’ cross and proclaim the gospel in truth.

May the global church pray together for the churches and Christians of Kyrgyzstan in the face of these circumstances and serve them. Send even more workers to preach the gospel so that revival may come to Central Asia.

And so, even in the midst of persecution, may Kyrgyzstan overcome in truth and love and become a nation that proclaims the gospel of Jesus’ cross to the ends of the earth!