In Uzbekistan, Police Raid On Large Protestant Congregation

Forum 18 reports that in Uzbekistan on Sunday, the police, National Security Service secret police, Tax Inspectorate, Fire Brigade, and Sanitary-Epidemiological Service all raided Church of Christ, one of the largest Protestant congregations in Tashkent. The Russian-language Full Gospel congregation has been registered with the state since 1999. The five-hour raid began Sunday morning one hour after services began. Computers, books and documents (including permission forms signed by parents) were seized. Eight church members, including the church's assistant pastor, were arrested and held for 24 hours. Shortly after their release yesterday, an initial hearing was held in District Court. Their trial is scheduled to continue today. It is not clear what charges have been brought, but the prosecution says it has a letter from a father charging the church with forcing his children to convert. This is the latest in a series of similar raids against Protestant churches in the country. Government officials refuse to discuss the raid.