A Pentecostal Christian from Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, has been tortured by police since his arrest on June 14, according to Forum 18.
Both police and other cell mates have subjected 19 year old Kural Bekjanov to torture during his time in police custody in an attempt to make Bekjanov surrender his faith.
Other churches and their members have also been the victims of threats, and followers of the Protestant faith are reporting a widespread crackdown throughout the country, except in Andijan. This is all despite the recent brutal put down of an uprising in May.
Beknajov was arrested on 14 June on suspicion of the murder of a US citizen, Kim Khen Pen Khin, originally of Korean origin, who was in the capital working with the Pentecostal churches.
Despite the charges being dropped two days after his arrest, Beknajov remains in police custody.
