PRAY FOR TAJIKISTAN
– For laws that allow Christians to practise their faith.
– That church leaders under pressure will be equipped to lead faithfully.
– That converts from Islam will find ways to encourage one another.
WORLD WATCH LIST
Tajikistan
#44Laws that restrict and inhibit religious freedom are strictly enforced.
bottom“My church was attacked, and the church building was confiscated by the court. Our church is now gathering inside a shipping container.”
– Pastor Bahrom, who was jailed for his faith
Country
Profile
- Region
- Central Asia
- Sources of persecution
- Dictatorial Paranoia
- Population
- 9,957,000
- Christian population
- 64,100
- Religions
- Islam
- Leader
- President Emomali Rahmon
- Score
- 66
What’s Life Like for Christians?
Tajikistan has the highest percentage of Muslims in Central Asia. Christians from a Muslim background face rejection and sometimes violent assault from family and the local community to return to Islam.
Church services are often disrupted and believers face harassment and arrests for holding private prayer meetings or possessing any Christian material. Registering churches is effectively impossible, making all Christian activities carried out by these groups technically illegal.
What Has Changed This Year?
Persecution against Christians has slightly worsened in the past year, with private life and church life being the areas where believers face the highest pressure. Muslim families, friends, and villagers exert pressure on Muslim-background converts in particular, while the government imposes many restrictions on church activities.
Since men often hold church leadership positions, they are more likely to experience police pressure. Converts from Islam experience pressure from family, friends, and community in greater amounts in rural areas.
