Police raided a group of 80 Christians in Uzbekistan on Dec.
1 while they were vacationing at the Simurg resort in the Bostanlyk District of
Uzbekistan. The raid occurred during a meeting at which they were discussing
their faith and singing Christian songs. Police authorities confiscated
songbooks and Bibles and charged some of the Christians with leading
unsanctioned worship.
According to Forum 18 News, police initially claimed they
only wanted to check internal passports. But the 12 policemen confiscated three
Bibles and 100 songbooks and fingerprinted all those present. According to an
eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous, police insulted the believers with
abusive language and threatened to bring criminal charges unless they signed
statements.
Four members of the group were charged with illegal storage
of religious material, holding religious meetings and unauthorized religious
activity, among other offenses. When asked why the Christians were being
punished for merely reading their Bibles and singing Christian songs, a
policeman replied that worship must occur only in “places specifically set up
for religious purposes.”
Source: Forum 18 News
Service
Posted: December 28, 2012