Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

Four Christians in the southern Uzbek city of Karshi have been punished after meeting for worship without official permission. One member of the church, Nabijon Bolikulov, was jailed for five days, and three others faced fines. In his ruling, the judge did not specify what part of the law the believers had broken.

On November 10th, police in Andijan raided the private flat of Irina Stepanova, a member of a local state-registered church. Police alleged that they were looking for an illegally stored gun but instead concentrated on the confiscation of her Christian books. The five officials who entered Irina's home did so unannounced -- without a legally required search warrant and proper identification. She now faces charges for possessing Christian books and other related materials.