Appeals for Ilmurad Nurliev | Danish European Mission

Ilmurad Nurliev was sentenced to 4 years in prison in Turkmenistan on October 21st this year on charges of peonage.

Ilmurad Nurliev, 45, is the pastor of a church that has been trying to register their denomination with the authorities since 2007, but so far they have been denied this luxury. When the church first approached the authorities, the pastor was almost automatically put on the authorities' "blacklist", which means, among other things, that he cannot leave the country. According to several sources, Ilmurad has not done anything illegal and there are strong indications that the false accusations against him are an attempt to punish his church activities. The priest has so far been denied access to a written version of the verdict, which has meant that he has been prevented from appealing the verdict within the allotted timeframe. He has also been sentenced by the authorities to compulsory treatment for drug abuse - another charge strongly denied by his wife and lawyer.

Call to action from Maya

Ilmurad's wife, Maya, fears that Ilmurad, who is diabetic, will not receive the necessary medical treatment in prison. Maya has called on the world to react to the unfair treatment Ilmurad has received in the trial and has urged foreign organizations to put pressure on the Turkmen authorities so that Ilmurad is first treated for diabetes and then acquitted. Maya and Ilmurad have a daughter and two grandchildren.

NB: The campaign ended when Pastor Ilmurad was released in 2012.

It's quite simple to follow up on Maya's call. Copy the text of this appeal letter (click here...) into a word file, print it out, sign the petition and help influence the President of Turkmenistan to intervene in the case. Read a Danish version of the letter here (click here...).

Thank you for helping to make a difference for our persecuted brother Ilmurad Nurliev.

Sincerely yours

Benjamin Bach

Network Coordinator, Danish European Mission

The appeal letter is sent to:

K. Berdimuhammedov, President of Turkmenistan, Apparat Prezidenta, 744000 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

General information

Only the appeal letter itself must be sent to the relevant country's authorities or embassy. All other materials must NOT be included. The name or logo of the Danish European Mission must NOT be used in the appeal letter, as it may have a detrimental effect on our other work among persecuted Christians.