Threatened religious freedom for all in Tajikistan

Four days earlier, on June 4, a small group of Jehovah’s Witnesses met together in the home belonging to one of them and were discussing Bible subjects. A knock on the door startled the peaceful group. Eleven local officials forced their way into the apartment and began filming those inside. Several in the group of Witnesses were taken to CNS headquarters, where they were questioned for the next six hours. One woman in the group who was registered as a disabled person because of a recent head injury was threatened that if she did not answer their questions, she would be beaten and confined for ten days. She was released nine hours later only because the threats and abuse began to have a noticeable effect on her health.

Incidents like these threaten the fundamental human right of religious freedom for all Tajik people, making it increasingly difficult for citizens to practice their faith without the fear of government surveillance or intrusion. Jehovah’s Witnesses are known in over 235 lands as Christians whose activity contributes to family peace and the well-being of the communities where they live. Jehovah’s Witnesses enjoyed legal recognition within Tajikistan for 14 years, before October 2007. Since that date, their literature has been confiscated and public meetings for worship have been outlawed.

"Incidents like these threaten the fundamental human right of religious freedom for all Tajik people, "

So let's get this straight -- the detention of aliens in Tajikistan spreading an alien faith threatens the rights of Tajiks? A very daringly illogical proposition.

In truth, it's your kind that is threatened, because it is your kind intruding upon the culture of other lands which don't want you. You exploit the good nature of the Tajiks in trying to spread your mawkish disease called Christianity. Not even the real, dignified Christianity of the Church -- your vapid, pusillanimous, money-grubbing American pseudo-Christianity made for children. The Tajiks are innocent and your kind exploits them. The Tajik government says you will not exploit them, and you use the empty rhetoric of "fundamental human rights" to bemoan the curtailment of your race-destroying activities.

Well, sadly, the Tajik government isn't bad, and will let your people go -- I don't know WHY. They should be hung from lampposts, their bodies beaten and gnawed upon by stray dogs. That'd give you something to moan piously about.

The world is sick of Christians, sick of the West. Central Asia doesn't need your "Christ", doesn't need you, doesn't need "hearts and minds" to be "won". It needs to be LEFT ALONE.

I do not agree with both comments. I think as Tajiks we should first and foremost return to Islam and practice its teachings as prescribed by Allah and His messenger. It is true that we do not not Christ as christian perceive him, but it is also true that a Muslim cannot be a Muslim without believing in Jesus as one of the messengers of Allah. I think our government is not against Christianity, Buddhism or Islam, i think it is a left over communist paranoia that all religions are opioids of masses and thus need to be eliminated. I agree with the first comment that we do need to have a religious freedom for all. If all tajiks practiced the teachings of Islam, all those evangelicals would long time ago become muslims. So, i say do not be scared by these christians coming to our lands, welcome them, teach them Islam, and show them the Truth.

PS: I was one of the people who converted to Christianity at an early age because of those missionaries, and then i studied all other religions and finally chose Islam, Alhamdullilah.

"So, i say do not be scared by these christians coming to our lands, welcome them, teach them Islam, and show them the Truth."

Blah blah blah blah blah. O ye of too much faith!

Thank you for your thoughts. Let me make few points here. First of all Jehovah’s Witnesses are not Christians at all. Period. Their teaching about Jesus is completeley wrong. True Christians have nothing to do with them.
Second, I agree with you tajik that your country as well as any countries under former Soviet Union are suffering communist paranoia. Communism is most dangerous governement style you can find.
Tird, you were never converted to christianity. That is for sure. If you were you would never abandon it. So it was fauls conversion.
Last point. True Christians are folowing Jesus. And He tauht us to love people, to love enemy.
If you are not affraid, i will be more then willing to talk to you about Islam and Christianity. I would love to. After all we both have the same ansestors - Adam and Eve.
Thank you!