For Immediate Release
June 29, 2001

A Turkmenistan family loses apartment for studying the Bible

ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN—On June 4, 2001, the District Court in the Name of President Niyazov of the city of Ashgabat decided to evict the Segzekov family from its apartment. The reason for the eviction was that meetings for Bible study were being conducted in the apartment.

The Segzekov family, including two minor children, has been receiving friends two evenings a week. Together they studied the Bible, prayed, and socialized. On April 27, 2001, the apartment was entered by officers of the National Security Committee (KNB, state security service), a district police officer, and representatives of Khyakimlik (the local Executive’s Office) under the pretext of a passport check. After writing down the passport information, the officials compiled a document and warned that conducting religious meetings in an apartment was not permitted.

Three days later, on April 30, those who had been subjected to the "census" were invited to a meeting with the Administrative Commission. There, they were subjected to humiliating treatment, fined, and sent to the police station.

On June 4, the District Court in the Name of President Niyazov of the city of Ashgabat complied with the wishes of the Khyakimlik to terminate a contract for the lease of the place of residence and to evict the main occupant and all family members.

Article 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkmenistan "guarantees the freedom of religion and confession and their equality before the law." This article says that "everyone has the right to determine independently one’s attitude toward religion, to profess any religion either individually or together with others, or not to profess any religion, to express and disseminate religious beliefs, to participate in the performance of religious cults, rites, and ceremonies."

In spite of the constitutional guarantee of freedom, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Turkmenistan have long been subjected to various forms of harassment. As a rule, the persecution initiated by the KNB is not limited to threats, beatings, and fines. In December 1999, Ramil Galimov was deported from Turkmenistan.

Despite having only a slight hope for a fair trial, the Segzekov family is planning to appeal the decision.

Contact in the U.S.: (718) 560-5600, or,
Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Telephone: (812) 434-38-50 Fax: (812) 437-09-70