Central Asia

Freedom of belief under pressure

Central Asia is the region that lies south of Russia, east of the Caspian Sea, north of Afghanistan and Iran and west of China and Mongolia. Kazakhstan is by far largest by area and is the only one that borders to Russia. Central Asia consists of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.  

When the Soviet Union disintegrated, the various republics became independent. The five republics in Central Asia became independent in the fall of 1991. Although becoming independently free, the republics were given new authoritarian regime. And freedom of religion is under increasing pressure in all the republics. 

Some of these are regimes that - like the authorities in the Soviet Union - rely on strict state control of all activities in society. This also involves control of religious practice – this being religious services, missions and access to religious literature. 

Islam is the dominant religion in the republics. Radical Islam is on the rise, with the construction of mosques and offers of free education at Koranic schools, often sponsored by Saudi Arabia. Wahabism, radical Islamism, is sponsored from Saudi Arabia. This is also causing concern in Central Asia. For example, the authorities in Tajikistan have closed down Koranic schools (madrassas). In the eyes of the authorities, religion is quickly linked to extremism, and the fear of extremism helps to put several religious communities in the crossfire. 

Following the change of president in 2016, Uzbekistan has seen some easing of practical politics, but the religious law has not changed. 

 

Stefanus Alliance partners: 

Joseph's House

Joseph's House offers Christians in Central Asia a short-term refuge to build up their spiritual, mental and physical reserves in the face of persecution. to share names and locations of our partners. 

The authorities' strict restrictions on the practice of religion also affect Christians. The rise of radical Islam has also led to local conflicts, threats, abuse and social control in relation to Christians in their own neighborhood. When this is not prosecuted, and even murders are swept under the carpet, the small Christian groups are rendered weak. Christians with a clear testimony and converts are most affected. Christians with a clear testimony and converts are the most vulnerable. 

Despite this, Christians choose to remain. Instead of putting their light under a bushel, they choose the path of suffering. Christians are under tremendous pressure. Before Christians gather, they must always plan an escape route. They can never go out after dark. In this situation, we want to offer an opportunity to take a break from all of this pressure for a little while. 

Joseph's House is such an offer. Just as Joseph opened his house to his brothers and sisters in the face of famine, Joseph's House is an offer to Christians in Central Asia of refuge for a short period of time, to build up their spiritual, mental and physical reserves in the face of persecution. The house is located in a country close to Central Asia. For security reasons, we cannot disclose the location. 

At Joseph's House, guests are offered conversations with other Christian leaders in peaceful surroundings. Some need expert medical help, others can be offered a conversation with a psychologist. Everyone is allowed to feel surrounded by Christian sisters and brothers who care. 

The children of the Christian leaders are also drawn into their parents' struggle. In a life of permanent state of emergency, it becomes difficult to maintain social relationships with anyone other than the immediate family. In Joseph's House, these children take center stage. The offer is adapted to the individual. Some need to meet new, safe adults, while others need play and experiences. Above all, it is important to talk to parents about their children's situation and help them to take care of their own when the external pressure becomes too great. 

Joseph's House is not about taking Christians away from their homeland and the persecution they experience. This is about showing Christ's love to one of his least, believing that this love will strengthen the individual in the face of persecution. 

 

Forum 18 News Service: Spotlight on freedom of belief 

Forum 18 provides truthful, detailed and accurate monitoring and analysis of violations of freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Central Asia, Russia, the South Caucasus and Belarus. They also publish occasional analysis on Turkey. It is a Christian initiative based on the premise that every person - regardless of their belief or non-belief - has an inherent worth that no state or person can take away from them. Freedom of religion or belief - which includes the right to have no religion and to criticize any religion - is therefore a fundamental human right. 

All Forum 18 News Service material may be referred to, quoted from or published in full, as long as www.forum18.org is credited as the source. 

 

Discipleship Training for Women

For security reasons we cannot share names and locations of this particular project.  

Women in Central Asia who choose to convert to Christianity often experience great pressure. They may be shunned from their immediate family and local communities. Women in the area are highly dependent on their families for income and shelter, so being outcast puts them in a very difficult situation. Many families do everything they can to turn women away from their new faith, often resorting to brutal means such as physical and psychological violence, or depriving women of their children. Our partner and their church network have been helping these women for many years. The work aims to educate and strengthen their new faith by providing a spiritual community where they can meet women in the same situation as themselves. In some cases, they also offer temporary accommodation to women who are in a crisis situation. The women are also offered counseling with a psychologist and help to deal with persecution and everyday life.  

 

Family ministry project: Family life under persecution  

For security reasons we cannot share names and locations of this particular project.  

Many pastors and church leaders in Central Asia live under constant pressure due to persecution. This pressure has a profound impact on their families, especially relationships are negatively affected. The goal of our partners’ project is to facilitate strong, happy and revitalized families through marriage counselling, family retreats and conferences. The target group for the project is pastors and church leaders in persecuted churches and their families, who are at risk of family disintegration. 

 

 

Supporting pastors wives under pressure 

For security reasons we cannot share names and locations of this particular project.

Stefanus Alliance supports an annual conference that brings together pastors' wives and other women from all countries in Central Asia. Some are also from Caucasus and Afghanistan. 

For 20 years, a group of enthusiasts have been gathering pastors wives from Central Asia for an annual conference to give them a safe space to talk about all the things they can't talk about with the church - and barely with their own men. 

Those who are married to pastors in Central Asia are under a lot of pressure. Their men are in the police spotlight, some are imprisoned for shorter or longer periods of time, or their homes are raided by the police. A lot of responsibility and pressure falls on the pastors' wives' shoulders - they have to keep the family together and take care of the church, especially if their husbands are arrested. They must show strength to the church, even if they are exhausted, because the church needs their leadership and support. 

Increasingly, relationship crises are being put on the agenda at the women's conference - many pastor couples are struggling under the pressure and workload and lack of experience of talking about relationships. 

Pastors themselves have many male communities where they meet. Women often lack such communities. This annual conference gives them a community and a sanctuary. It also provides them with health care when needed, and relaxation in the form of pleasant activities. 

Stefanus Alliance has supported this women's conference since 2019.