TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — An Uzbek court fined a Baptist woman about two weeks’ wages Jan. 18 for offering 15 Christian magazines to her neighbors at a Christmas celebration in her home.
On Dec. 28, police raided homes of those who received magazines from Tatyana Akhmadiyeva and confiscated the publications.
A judge later ordered the magazines destroyed.
On Feb. 12, Tashkent City Criminal Court upheld the penalty against her.
Akhmadiyeva is a member of a Baptist Council of Churches congregation.
On Jan. 6, the “Struggle with Extremism and Terrorism Department” of the police interviewed and filmed her. She was told the magazines had been imported illegally and violated Uzbekistan’s religion law.
After analyzing the magazines, Uzbekistan’s Religious Affairs Committee said the publications contained nothing contrary to the law, but that the literature had been imported illegally.
Uzbekistan is No. 21 on Open Doors’ 2021 World Watch List of places where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
