Tajikistan

A new religion law which was published in Tajikistan on 1 April 2009 severely restricts the rights of religious communities, including the rights of Christians. More control has been granted to the Religious Affairs Committee to regulate the affairs of congregations. All religious literature needs approval. During 2009, interest in Islam has grown significantly and with its increased influence, more pressure on Muslim background believers has developed.
To publicly come together for worship services gets more and more difficult for Tajik Christians. People who openly evangelize run the risk of becoming a target of harassment and persecution. The main sources of oppression are relatives, local society and Islamic clergy. The growth of Christianity is decreasing. There is a growing fear among Christians to reach out openly. Also a significant economical fall increased the aggressiveness towards the Christians.

(January 2010)

Latest News on Tajikistan

Back to World Watch List