DUSHANBE, October 2, 2008, Asia-Plus — Tajik authorities has banned activities by Jehovah”s Witnesses in the country, Asia-Plus ahs learned from Nozirjon Bouriyev, head of the center for public relations of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB).
According to him, activities by Jehovah”s Witnesses were banned in Tajikistan by ruling handed down by the military court of the Dushanbe Garrison on September 30.
“In early September, representatives from the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tajikistan applied to the Dushanbe military court, complaining that officers from the security and customs services as well as representatives of the ministry of culture illegally confiscated more than 500,000 religious books that they were going to distribute across the country,” said Bouriyev, “Meanwhile, the court, taking into consideration the fact that the government has repeatedly warned the organization against violating the country’s legislation on religious organizations and public associations, decided to put a ban on its activities in Tajikistan.”
According to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, the Tajik government suspended activities by Jehovah”s Witnesses in the country in October 2007 because of their refusal to serve in the military. Two other Christian organizations — an evangelistic Baptist group called Hayat Faravan (Full Life) and the missionary group Ehya (Revival) — were also ordered to suspend their activities for three months. Tajik officials claimed that these groups have increased their propaganda activities and bring an excessive amount of religious materials into the country. They also said that these organizations have criticized other religions, which is against Tajik law.
Jehovah”s Witnesses refuse to serve in the military due to a principle they call “Christian neutrality.” They also are forbidden from holding political office.
The organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses had worked in Tajikistan since 1997. According to the Ministry of Culture, 85 religious organizations currently function in Tajikistan.
