Uzbekistan Christians Conclude 21-Day Prayer, Fast Over NGO Expulsion

The country of Uzbekistan recently finished a 21-day prayer and fasting period for NGOs which are facing possible expulsion and shut down by the Eastern European nation’s government.

|TOP|"Prayer is the best response to all that is happening in this nation," reported “Joseph Chomsky” – a source familiar with the Uzbekistan situation, according to Youth With A Mission (YWAM).

"The people of Uzbekistan, including the leadership, need our prayers,” he added, “[that] they (the leaders) will not move in fear, but rather do what is best for the people that are served by these NGOs."

The 21-day prayer and fasting period for non-government organizations (NGOs) ended on Dec. 8, the Constitution Day in Uzbekistan. On that day, the Uzbek people and those concerned about the situation focused their prayer and fasting on the constitution and law of the land.

"What the government is doing in seeking to close down NGOs is a contradiction of the stated law. We will pray on Dec. 8 that the law of this land will be upheld to bring justice and righteousness, freedom to the oppressed, and protection to the innocent,” Chomsky reported to YWAM.

“We will pray that Jesus will be the cornerstone of enforced law here. May this be the year of the Lord’s favor. May true freedom come to the hearts of the people of Uzbekistan,” he added.

|AD|This past summer, the Uzbekistani government shut down some international non-government organisations (NGOs), particular ones that were involved in the pursuit of human rights.

"The NGOs are doing a tremendous amount of work in serving the people of Uzbekistan. Widows, orphans, and others who rely on the services of these groups stand to lose the most. They will suffer more than they already are, and that is a tragedy," Chomsky remarked.

Earlier this year, in the eastern Uzbekistan town of Andijan on May 13, a “massacre” took place where hundreds of innocent civilians are thought to have died during a “quiet, orderly and very well organised” protest, according to BBC’s Jenny Norton.

The Uzbekistani people were protesting over a trial of local businessmen accused of Islamic extremism when there began a massive firing at the innocent men, women and children at the street protest.

The Uzbekistani President Karimov claims that Islamic extremists were responsible for the killing of 10 soldiers and “many others.” However, eyewitnesses of the scene say the Uzbekistani military and security forces are responsible and hundreds were killed.

Chomsky also noted that reports from people in Uzbekistan claim that the government is exercising stricter control of not only international NGOs but also local groups. The Ministry of Justice has also contacted leaders of organisations and forcing them to shut down.

In addition, YWAM reported that Christians in the country have experienced increasing persecution in the last several months, with churches confronting the possibility of being closed down also.

In an Amnesty International’s report on Uzbekistan, it revealed that thousands of people have been arbitrarily detained, records and documents have been reportedly destroyed, and websites that show different accounts of events have been blocked within Uzbekistan as well as websites associated with those opposed to the Uzbekistani government.







Michelle Vu
Christian Today Correspondent