Forum 18 reported on Thursday that Tajikistan’s Ministry of Culture has issued an order revoking the registration of the Jehovah’s Witness denomination and banning all activities by them in the country. The formal order says that Jehovah's Witness activity violated the country's Constitution as well as the Religion Law by distributing religious literature to non-members. However Saidbek Mahmudolloev, head of the Information Department at the Culture Ministry's Religious Affairs Department, said the major concern with the Jehovah's Witnesses is their refusal to serve in the armed forces. Jehovah's Witnesses plan to appeal to President Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister Okil Okilov to challenge the ban.
Meanwhile the Jehovah’s Witnesses have won a significant legal victory in Pridnestrovia (also known as Trans-Dniestria)-- a break-away republic within the internationally recognized boundaries of Moldova. According to Thursday's Tiraspol Times, Pridnestrovia’s Supreme Court has held unconstitutional a requirement imposed by Religious Affairs Commissioner Pyotr Zalozhkov that that Jehovah’s Witnesses register under local laws governing the leadership of religious organizations.
