believers and their leaders if they share their faith outside designated places of worship, BosNewsLife learned Tuesday, August 22.
The Religious Affairs Committee of the ex-Soviet republic made the announcement at a meeting with registered religious groups in the capital Tashkent, including officials from the Muslim and Jewish communities as well as leaders of the Russian Orthodox, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal and Full Gospel denominations, said human rights group Forum 18.
"For a first "offence," it wants to impose a fine of between 200 and 600 times the minimum monthly salary. The second time this "offence" is committed, it is intended to jail the offender and the leader of their religious community for between three and eight years," said Forum 18 News Service (F18 News) in a statement.
"The proposals are the latest harshening of penalties for peaceful religious activity and, like for example the ban on unregistered religious activity, directly break the international human rights standards Uzbekistan is formally committed to. The country has also – in the latest use of deportation against religious believers – deported a Baptist to Russia who was born and grew up in Tashkent," claimed F18News reporter Igor Rotar.
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS
The move was expected to target mainly evangelical Christians who see spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone interested as part of their mission.
Human rights observers have reported increased persecution against religious minorities in this mainly Muslim nation since the violent suppression of what became known as the Andijan uprising for more freedom in which hundreds of people died. Critics say Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov is one of Central Asia’s most autocratic leaders, running a repressive regime which retains many aspects of its Soviet past.
In the last two months religious believers had already been threatened with long jail sentences. Protestant Pastor Dmitry Shestakov had to go into hiding and then flee the country after apparently being charged with high treason and "inciting ethnic, racial or religious hatred," human rights investigators said.
PRISON TIME
Also, Protestant Lepes Omarov – from Karakalpakstan region – where all non-Orthoodx and non-state-controlled Muslim activity is banned – has been threatened with up to three years’ jail for "breaking the law on religious organizations, F18News said.
In addition a Baptist Christian, identified as Russian citizen Ivan Bychkov, was deported on August 11 August to Russia, Forum 18 said. “The deportation was carried out by officials from the Visa and Registration Department of the Interior Ministry in the Mirzo-Ulugbek district of Tashkent,” the group claimed.
"Bychkov was born and brought up in Tashkent, where his family still lives. He led a youth group at the Bethany Baptist Church, which is part of the Council of Churches Baptists who refuse on principle to register with the authorities in post-Soviet countries."
NO REASON
Bychkov was allegedly not given a reason for his deportation, but a Protestant Christian in Tashkent speaking on condition of anonymity was quoted as saying that authorities were upset as he had been "actively preaching the Gospel." His passport was allegedly stamped with the words "Deported from Uzbekistan".
Deportation is increasingly used to pressure religious believers and victims so far have included Jehovah’s Witnesses and Protestants holding citizenship from other countries, even if they are long-term residents, Forum 18 added. Uzbek officials have refused to comment on the allegations.
Uzbekistan is also reportedly cracking down on foreign Non Governmental Organizations dealing with human and religious rights. At least a dozen NGOs reportedly been closed down this year. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from Uzbekistan).
