Judge Bahadyr Shahanov of Kungrad [Qunghirot] District Court in northwestern Karakalpakstan issued an administrative arrest warrant for Christian Rustam Kalabayev on 05.08.10. The judge also fined the Christian Gulbahar (surname not given) almost 10 times the monthly minimum wage, 370,000 som, (DKK 1343) according to a source from Kungrad.
State restrictions on religious freedom are particularly tight in Karakalpakstan, and all non-Russian Orthodox and non-state-controlled Muslim activity is prohibited and punishable.
Both defendants are from a Full Gospel Pentecostal church. Fellow believers stated on 18.08.10 that Kalabayev was released from Kungrad on 15.08.10. The public prosecutor claimed to Kalabayev that Gulbahar had said that the Bible and CDs seized from her house came from him. Both Christians were forced under pressure to sign statements. Kalabayev denied the claims in his statement. Orally, Kalabayev was told that the charges were teaching a religious faith without being trained and without permission from the main body of a state-registered religious organization and teaching privately.
Danish European Mission is currently supporting a translation of the Bible so that the people of Karakalpakstan can read about God's promises in the midst of their trials in a language they understand.
Source: Forum18 News/Danish European Mission
