The image shows girls from Uzbekistan. For security reasons, we cannot show pictures of the affected youth.
In July, Turkmen authorities raided a summer camp for Christian youth organized by two registered churches who asked not to be identified for fear of state reprisals. The police claimed that a shepherd had been murdered nearby.
All 47 participants, including two pastors, were arrested and taken to the police station in Geok-tepe. All were questioned about when they had become Christians and who supported them financially. All were photographed and fingerprinted. Personal Bibles were confiscated. The campers were not released until the next morning.
The police criticized the leaders for not informing the government's gengeshi (Council for Religious Affairs) about the camp. When the camp leaders pointed out their rights to assemble according to the Turkmen constitution, the officers insulted the constitution. "To put it mildly, the constitution is just a piece of paper for the Turkmen authorities, while the legal status of the church means even less."
"The police said clearly and bluntly that they will do everything to ensure that there are no Christians left in Turkmenistan," a Protestant told Forum 18 News.
Danish European Mission is currently supporting a translation of the Bible so that the people of Turkmenistan can read about God's promises in the midst of their trials in a language they understand.
Source: Forum 18 News/Danish European Mission
