Pastor Umid has been released from prison

Pictured are Pastor Umid, Malahat and their children Daniel, David and Zubeida.

On February 17, 2015, Umid was released due to an amnesty from Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. He can now once again be with his wife Malahat, who had a difficult time while she was alone with three small children. Danish European Mission has helped her financially while her husband was in prison.

Too harsh a punishment

Umid Godjajev was sentenced to four years in prison in 2012. In a dispute over access to a well, Umid accidentally hit a neighbor, sending him to the hospital. The police investigated the case and although Umid and the neighbor had reconciled, he was sentenced to four years in prison. According to Christians in the country, the sentence was completely disproportionate to the offense the pastor committed. The reason is that the KGB had decided that the pastor should receive such a high sentence because he was a Christian.

Had the punishment been fair, it would not have been Christian persecution, but because the punishment is disproportionate to the violation, the punishment can be characterized as Christian persecution.

Encouraged by the letters

In prison, Umid received letters from Christians, including recipients of the Danish European Mission magazine. The prison staff showed him the letters but did not allow him to read them. Even though he wasn't allowed to read the letters, he was very encouraged.

He felt guilty about what he had done to his neighbor, and he believed that other Christians had turned their backs on him. Therefore, the letters were a great encouragement and comfort to him.

Could read the Bible in prison

In prison, he had regular access to the Bible as some fellow prisoners had a Bible he could borrow.

Umid also experienced God protecting him. Often the prison guard in charge will beat the prisoners with a stick, but the guard did not hit Umid, but only took him by the collar.

Danish European Mission helps Umid find employment

Thank you to everyone who prayed for Umid, his wife and children. In addition to helping Malahat financially during this difficult time, we will also help Umid in the future to find employment as it can be difficult for him to find work now that he has a criminal record.