A Seventh-day Adventist spokesperson has expressed concern that the U.S. government would send the “wrong signals” in normalizing trade relations with the central Asian country of Turkmenistan.

“Turkmenistan is involved in the systematic repression of the right to freedom of conscience,” said James Standish, director of legislative affairs for the Adventist world church. “Its brutal repression of religious liberty should not be rewarded by trade benefits with the United States. Standish said that any financial benefits for Turkmenistan must only be given in exchange for an agreement to end state-sponsored violence against religious believers, and the return of property confiscated from believers.

Standish’s comments followed a March 28 hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, where government representatives said the United States is considering granting Turkmenistan permanent normalized trade relations, known as PNTR.

Congressman Christopher H. Smith, co-chair for the CSCE, expressed deep concern about granting PNTR to Turkmenistan while the nation continues to persecute people of faith, including Seventh-day Adventists. Smith also agreed to write to the U.S. Department of State regarding the plight of Adventists in Turkmenistan.

John Graz, public affairs and religious liberty director for the Adventist Church, said that human rights violations against people of faith in Turkmenistan are “breathtaking in their severity. Christians have been tortured, houses of worship confiscated and destroyed, clergy have been arrested, and there is a program of suppression of the peaceful practice of faith.”

Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1925. It achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.  President Saparmurad Niyazov retains absolute control over the country and opposition is not tolerated.

The Adventist Church is coordinating a letter-writing campaign to alert U.S. leaders to the violations of religious freedom by Turkmenistan. Information on the letter writing campaign, including sample letters, is located at

http://ola.adventist.org