TURKMENISTAN - On Sunday,
September 23, police and other unidentified officials raided the home of a
Baptist family in the northern city of Dashoguz during a church meeting.
The
owner of the home, 77-year-old Begjan Shirmedov, was dragged from the house by
his collar. About 15 church members were questioned and religious literature
was seized.
When Begian's wife, 68-year-old Kerime (Klara) Ataeva, complained
about the mistreatment, authorities beat her hands until they bled. Earlier
that month in the same city, police raided a religious meeting at a private
home and fined three for violating the "law on religious
organizations" for participating in an unregistered religious community.
One of the fined Christians, Oleg Piyashev, visiting Turkmenistan from Russia
at the time of the raid, was banned later Sept 23 from leaving Turkmenistan at
the airport. Pray that they and other Christians facing opposition will
continue to meet together to encourage one another. (Source: Forum 18 News Service)
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