In continuing religious discrimination the government of Turkmenistan evicted a Seventh-day Adventist woman from her flat for holding religious meetings.
In continuing religious discrimination, Turkmenistan authorities evicted a Seventh-day Adventist woman from her flat for holding religious meetings, according to Keston News Service.
Marina Ismakayeva is now homeless after an eviction order issued by the Turkmenabad city court Dec. 21 on the grounds that an unregistered community of Adventists had been meeting in Ismakayeva’s flat.
This is the latest in a series of crackdowns on religious minorities in the country. Six Seventh-day Adventists were arrested while meeting in the apartment Nov. 16, 2001, and in November 1999 the only Adventist Church in Turkmenistan was destroyed. (See ANN Dec. 4, 2001)
During the past year authorities in Turkmenistan have threatened to seize the property of any citizens who hold religious meetings in their homes.
“It doesn’t stop,” said John Graz, director of public affairs and religious liberty for the Adventist world church. “It’s still going on and the government keeps doing worse things.”
ANN reported Dec. 26 that Jan Paulsen, Adventist world church president, had asked Adventists around the world to remember in prayer those persecuted, especially those in Turkmenistan. “We are deeply concerned over the continuing situation in Turkmenistan. Such reports are very distressing and as yet our communications with the authorities have not brought any response,” said Paulsen.
“Turkmenistan is a typical example of a country which has lost all reference toward human rights,” said Graz. “Destroying the only church of a small religious group that presents no threat to the government, persecuting a pastor, harassing church members in their daily lives, evicting a woman from her apartment on Christmas Day just because they were supposed to have a meeting, this is all a demonstration that Turkmenistan has lost all reference to human dignity.”
