46 Tajikistan
What does persecution look like in Tajikistan?
No religious activities beyond state-run and controlled institutions are allowed in Tajikistan.
Historical Christian communities such as the Russian Orthodox Church, which makes up the majority of Christians in the country, are largely tolerated by the regime, which doesn’t them as a threat as they tend not to reach out to Tajiks. However, registering non-Orthodox or non-Catholic Christian groups is effectively impossible, making all religious activities carried out by these groups technically illegal. In 2022, the government announced that no new churches could be registered. Church services are often disrupted and Christians risk harassment and arrest for holding private prayer meetings or possessing “illegal” religious material. Children are prohibited from participating in public religious activities.
Christians who come to faith from a Muslim background can face additional pressure from their family and local community to renounce their faith, based on the belief that a true Tajik can only be Muslim.
What changed this year?
There have been no changes in government policy regarding freedom of religion since the introduction of the new religion law in January 2018. This means that raids on meetings, the arrest and interrogation of Christians, fines and confiscation of religious materials continue to occur.
How can I pray?
- That the government would ease their tight grip on religious freedom
- That believers from Muslim backgrounds who are under pressure will not lose hope or faith in Jesus
- That church leaders and local partners will have time to rest to avoid burn out from their ministry.
