The state religion of Turkmenistan is Islam. Religion in Turkmenistan Who lives in Ashgabat what religion

And recognizes it as an integral part of its culture. There is no state religion in Turkmenistan, and the country's constitution provides for freedom of religion. Although Islam is widespread, there is low adherence to religion compared to other countries. Muslims in Turkmenistan do not strictly attend services, but recognize the need to restore the importance of language as an important element in the country's revival.

Religious demographics

Looking at the religion of Turkmenistan in percentage, it is worth noting that Islam has the widest share of the country's population - 89%. Sunni Islam is the most practiced branch among Muslims in the country. The minority religion in Turkmenistan is Christianity with 9%. Other faiths in the country make up only 2% of the population.

The emergence of many beliefs can be correlated with 20th century European immigration to Turkmenistan. A significant number of immigrants are Russians, Armenians, Poles and Germans. Most of these immigrants consider themselves Orthodox Christians, Catholics or Lutherans. Smaller Christian communities are Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists and Pentecostals.

History of Islam in Turkmenistan

Before the emergence of Islam in the religions of Turkmenistan, it, like many of its Central Asian neighbors, had Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity as its dominant faiths. Sufi sheikhs were entrusted with the spread of Islam and its introduction into the country. They were accepted as the "founders" of certain ethnic groups or clans, which subsequently laid the foundation for highly localized changes in Turkmenistan's religion for some time. Part of the Turkmen tribal structure is a holy tribe called övlat. Six of the holy tribes are active, and each is believed to trace its origins to the Prophet Muhammad through one of the caliphs. Members of the övlat retain a certain level of spiritual authority today.

Islam in Turkmenistan was greatly suppressed during the Soviet era under atheistic doctrines. Mosques across the country were closed and authorities banned various Islamic practices. Only in 1990 did they begin to revive religion in independent Turkmenistan. Islam was studied in educational institutions, and mosques and religious schools were built throughout the country.

Religion in Turkmenistan has evolved over time into a mixture of Sunni Islam, Sufi mysticism and Zoroastrianism, as well as shamanic traditions. Such shamanic practices include widespread beliefs in divination, the evil eye, and amulets. Shia Islam is mainly practiced by immigrants such as Iranians and Kurds.

Modern Islam

The current government controls official Islam through a structure inherited from the Soviet period. The Muslim Religious Council of Turkmenistan, together with Uzbekistan, constitutes the Muslim Religious Administration of Mawarannahr. It was founded in Tashkent and has significant influence on the appointment of religious leaders in the country. The governing body of Islamic judges (Kaziat) is registered with the Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan, and the Council for Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers monitors the activities of the clergy. Persons wishing to become members of the official clergy must attend official religious institutions; however, some can prove their qualifications simply by passing an exam.

Since 1990, efforts have been made to restore part of the cultural heritage lost under Soviet rule. President Niyazov ordered that basic Islamic principles be taught in public schools. More schools and mosques have appeared, many of which were created with the support of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Turkey. Religious classes are conducted with the teaching of the Quran and Hadith, as well as Islamic history in Arabic.

Some government leaders and teachers working outside the official structure have vowed to raise public awareness of Islam, expand the religion's role in society and strengthen commitment to its principles. Alarmed that such intensification could worsen tensions between Sunnis and Shiites and especially alienate Orthodox Slavs, the government developed plans to elevate the Council of Religious Affairs to ministry status in order to more strictly regulate religious activities

Freedom of religion in the country

Turkmenistan is a peaceful state and provides freedom of religion for its citizens. But unregistered religious activities are illegal, including establishing places of worship (altars), holding services, and distributing religious materials. All religious activities in the country are reviewed and controlled by the Council of Religious Affairs (CRA).

Minority religious groups do not have representation on the Council, which hinders and makes it difficult for them to operate and obtain approval from the CRA. Media reported that unregistered religious groups were subject to harassment, fines, imprisonment, and deportation. Ethnic Turkmen who convert to other religions face the highest levels of social problems. Turkmenistan's religious landscape is relatively unfavorable for minorities.

Religion and law

Criminal and administrative codes prohibit persecution of registered religious groups, but the prohibition does not apply to unregistered ones. Authorities generally do not enforce it due to a lack of reports from registered religious groups that have expressed concerns that authorities have increased harassment or monitoring of their activities. The Administrative Code provides for penalties of 200-500 manats ($70-$176) for officials who violate the human right to freedom of worship or abstain from it, as well as fines of up to 10,000 manats ($3,521) for religious groups receiving unauthorized donations from outside the country.

Mysticism and the power of amulets

Turkmens believe in spells and amulets, which they consider endowed with special magical powers. It is believed that beads, bird feathers, ram horns and other objects are capable of driving away evil spirits, summoning good ones and protecting their owners from various troubles and misfortunes. These things can be in the shape of an eye, a heart, a snake's head, small shells or scarab beetles. Amulets and talismans, and images associated with them, are found in carpets, embroidery and clothing, as well as jewelry.

Magical powers have been attributed to certain types of fruits, seeds and grains for hundreds of years. One of the earliest amulets was a necklace made from jida seeds, pomegranate seeds, pistachio seeds and cloves. According to ancient beliefs, the strong smell of these plants could protect the owner from the evil eye, and a woman wearing such a necklace could quickly become pregnant.

Like their relatives in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran are predominantly Muslim. According to the CIA World Factbook, Turkmenistan is 89% Muslim and 10% Eastern Orthodox. Most ethnic Russians are Orthodox Christians. The remaining 1% is unknown. A 2009 Pew Research Center report indicates a higher percentage of Muslims with 93.1% of Turkmenistan's population adhering to Islam.

Although the 1995 census showed that ethnic Russians made up almost 7 percent of the population, subsequent emigration to Russia and other countries significantly reduced this proportion. Most ethnic Russians and Armenians are Orthodox Christians. There are 13 Russian Orthodox churches, 3 of which are in Ashgabat. A priest residing in Ashgabat leads the Orthodox Church in the country, serving under the religious jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Archbishop in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. There are no Russian Orthodox seminaries there.

Ethnic Russians and Armenians make up a significant percentage of members of unregistered religious communities; Ethnic Turkmen appear to be increasingly represented among these groups. There are small congregations of the following unregistered denominations: the Roman Catholic Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and several evangelical Christian groups, including "Separate" Baptists, a charismatic group, and a nonpartisan, nondenominational group.

A very small community of ethnic Germans, most of whom live in and around the city of Serakhs, are reportedly included as practicing Lutherans. Approximately a thousand ethnic Poles live in the country; they have been largely absorbed into the Russian community and consider themselves Russian Orthodox. The Catholic community in Ashgabat, which included both citizens and foreigners, met in the chapel of the Apostolic Nuncio. There were some foreign missionaries, although the extent of their activities was unknown.

An estimated one thousand Jews live in the country. Most of them are members of families who came from Ukraine during World War II. There are some Jewish families living in Turkmenabat, on the border with Uzbekistan, who are known as Bukharan Jews, in reference to the Uzbek city of Bukhara. There were no synagogues or rabbis, and Jews continued to emigrate to Israel, Russia and Germany; however, the Jewish population remains relatively constant. Communities gathered for religious observances but did not choose to register as a religious group; and there were no reports of harassment.

Islam and its history in Turkmenistan

Islam came to the Turkmens mainly through the activities of Sufi sheikhs, and not through mosques and the “high” written tradition of sedentary culture. These sheikhs were holy men critical in the process of reconciling Islamic beliefs with pre-Islamic belief systems; they were often accepted as "patrons" of individual clans or tribal groups, thereby becoming their "founders". The reformulation of communal identity around such figures constitutes one of the highly localized developments of Islamic practice in Turkmenistan.

Integrated into the Turkmen tribal structure is the "holy" Ovlat tribe. Ethnographers consider the övlat, six of which are active, as a renewed form of ancestor cult injected with Sufism. According to their genealogies, each tribe descends from the Prophet Muhammad through one of the four caliphs. Because of their belief in the sacred origin and spiritual powers of the övlat Turkmen representatives of these tribes were accorded a special, sacred status. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the övlat tribes began to disperse into small, compact groups in Turkmenistan. They were present and conferred blessings on all important communal and life-cycle events, and also acted as intermediaries between clans and tribes. The övlat institution retains some power today. Many of the Turkmen who were revered for their spiritual powers trace their origins to the övlat, and it is not uncommon, especially in rural areas, for such people to attend life cycle and other communal celebrations.

Hinduism

Hinduism spread in Turkmenistan by Hare Krishna missionaries. Hare Krishnas are a minority community in Turkmenistan. Many of the 600 Indians in Turkmenistan are Hindu.

David Stanley/flickr.com

about country

Turkmenistan is the most interesting country in Central Asia. This country is the ancestor of many cultures and traditions. The Great Silk Road passed through it. The culture of Turkmenistan is simply saturated with ancient monuments. The country's population is original and carefully preserves its centuries-old culture. The colorful nature has given this corner unique landscapes and various natural complexes. Lifeless deserts alternate with beautiful mountain landscapes. Green oases flow into the endless landscape of the sea coast.

Geography of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a state in Central Asia. Turkmenistan's neighbors in the south: Afghanistan and Iran. In the north: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The west of the country is washed by the Caspian Sea. The Karakum Desert occupies most of the country. The Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay is located off the coast of the Caspian Sea. Its unique feature is that it is 35 meters below sea level. Turkmenistan is a mountainous country. In the south and southwest of the country there are the Kopetdag and Paropamisa mountains. So there is one of the largest salt lakes - Sarykamysh. The main river of Turkmenistan is the Amu Darya. Among the natural resources that the country possesses are non-ferrous metals, rare earth metals, oil, gas, rock salts. Vegetation in deserts consists mainly of saxaul, kandym and various other shrubs. The hot dunes of the desert are sometimes covered with greenery after the autumn rains. The most interesting thing for a traveler is the vegetation of the mountains. Tugai forests grow along the rivers. Trees: turagni, silver sucker. The fauna of Turkmenistan is also diverse. More than 90 mammals live in the mountains and deserts of the country - these are rare animals - kulan, leopard, snow leopard, saiga, argali. Pelicans and flamingos can be found among the 300 species of birds. A unique natural area is the Er-0ylan-Duz basin, the bottom of which is filled with a salt lake and salt marshes. The entire landscape is complemented by long-extinct ancient volcanoes.

The country's area is 491,200 km²

Population

About 4,884,887 people live on the territory of Turkmenistan.

The official currency is Manat (TMT).

Official language - Turkmen

Needed. Obtained at the consulate

Climate

Turkmenistan has a very arid climate. In January, temperatures reach + 4 degrees in the south of the country and – 5 in the northeast. There were cases of frosts down to -22. In the desert, the temperature dropped to 20 - 32 degrees Celsius. In the summer months, temperatures remain around + 28 C in the northeast and near the Caspian Sea. In the south the heat reaches +34C. If you want to visit the mountains, then the temperature there rarely reaches +17 C. In the center of the country, in desert areas, the temperature rises to +50 in the sun. But when the sun sets, the heat drops to + 15 – 17C. Frosts are common in desert areas in spring and autumn. The precipitation season in Turkmenistan is in winter, when up to 77 mm of rain falls. In summer, precipitation is rare, and in the Karakum Desert there is none at all in summer. In winter, air humidity is no more than 60%. The sharply continental climate of Turkmenistan is characterized by strong climates - cold from Kazakhstan (in winter), and hot from the mountain slopes (in summer). The most favorable time for travel is spring and autumn. April June. September – November.

Sights of Turkmenistan

For a tourist traveling around Turkmenistan, it is best to begin his acquaintance with this country from the “city of love”. This is how the capital of the country, Ashgabat, is translated. The city is located in the southwest of the country, in a large oasis near the Kopetdag mountains. The city itself is young. Formed around a Russian fortress in 1881. In 1885, a branch of the Caspian Railway began to run through the city. This gave a strong impetus to the development of Ashgabat. In 1948, on October 6, Ashgabat was razed to the ground by a powerful earthquake. More than 110 thousand people died on that terrible day. But the city was built from scratch in less than 20 years. In Ashgabat, I recommend visiting the Tolkuchka bazaar, where you can buy traditional Turkmen carpets, which are brought here from all over the country. Instead of the market, you can go to the capital's Carpet Museum. This is the only building of its kind in the world. The museum contains carpets dating back to the 17th century. Not far from Ashgabat you can visit the site of Anau-Depe (IV-III thousand years BC). Archaeological excavations are currently underway there. Scientists claim that these foothill oases were home to many civilizations in ancient times. It is worth visiting the Anau fortress (III century BC - III century AD) and the ruins of the city of Anau with a mosque to see this. Not far from Ashgabat, an ancient architectural monument remains silent - the ruins of the capital of the Parthian state - Nisa. A huge number of clay tablets, remains of neighborhoods, houses, document archives and works of art were discovered on the territory of Nisa. Be sure to take a walk along the hiking trail in the Serdaor-Ely mountains. Her path lies through the most beautiful places in Kopetgad. Traces of ancient civilizations lead to the most ancient region of Central Asia - to the oasis of Merv. It was here that the first traces of irrigation in these parts were discovered. The find dates back to the Bronze Age. The very origin of the city of Mevre is shrouded in mystery. It was here that Omar Khayyam, al-Samani and Imamad din-Isfahani lived and created their works. The city of Mary is the third largest in Turkmenistan. Located in the middle of the Karakum in a large oasis. Founded in 1884 by Russians as an administrative center near ancient Merv. In the city you can visit the History Museum. There you will see a huge collection of Turkmen carpets from different times, national clothes, sets of silver and gold. Be sure to visit the local history and ethnographic exhibition. Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk) is the only port city in the country. All communication with Europe and Russia goes through it. From the east the city is surrounded by low mountains. In the west it is washed by the waves of the Caspian Sea. You can have a good rest on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Clean beaches, warm clear water, rich flora and fauna. All available sports will be open to you.

Kitchen

Turkmen cuisine is close to many Asian cuisines - especially Uzbek and Tajik. Milk and meat became the main products for Turkmens in desert conditions. In this country you need to try lamb meat. He is always praised. Mountain goat meat is also often consumed. True Turkmen cuisine is characterized by purely meat dishes, without the admixture of other products. Heat-treated meat is served without side dishes.

Transport

Roads in Turkmenistan are poorly developed, the whole point is due to the peculiarities of the geographical location of the state. It is impossible to lay highways through the desert. So far the government cannot solve this problem. Turkmenistan has a railway, but not an electrified one. The trains are mostly old Soviet or old Chinese. All this infrastructure needs investment and is poorly developed. Air transport is best developed in Turkmenistan. The international airport allows you to fly in and out of the country to almost anywhere in the world. In Ashgabat there is an airport in a modern building. On the board you will always see information about current flights. The quality of air transportation in the country is at a good level. Only one state-owned company is engaged in air transportation. As for the capital of Turkmenistan, in order for a tourist to quickly explore the city, it is best to take a taxi. The whole city is swarming with taxi drivers. Any person who has a car is already starting to taxi. This is now the only inexpensive and good opportunity to get around the city. Public transport is poorly developed, and therefore all residents of Ashgabat use the services of taxi drivers. The fare is not expensive. Finding a free car is quite easy - you just need to go to the side of the road and vote. The required car will arrive immediately.

Currency exchange

The local currency is Manat. It is equal to 100 tenge. The exchange rate for June 2011 is 1 RUB = 0.1 TMT. There are banknotes in denominations of 5, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000 manats in the country. And also 1 manat. Change (tenge) in coins - 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 tenge. Despite the fact that the manat is the only legal means of purchase and sale, it is often possible to purchase rare or precious goods for another currency. Bank opening hours. Monday Friday. From 10-30 to 17-30. If you want to change currency, I recommend changing only at banks and exchange offices. I do not recommend using the services of private money changers, due to their frequent fraud. You can pay with a credit card only in very large stores in Ashgabat.

Electricity

220V/50Hz (C/E standard sockets)

Religion

The main religion of Turkmenistan is Islam. This is the first state in Asia that began to officially profess this religion. But the faith in this region is slightly different and has distinct differences. Many centuries before Islam, tribal relations developed in the country, and these relations sometimes strongly contradict religious scriptures. In cities and in remote areas, all Turkmen are clearly divided into different tribal groups. Each group has its own dialect, embroidery style, and decoration. All groups are easily distinguished by clothing, but also have a huge number of other characteristics that are less noticeable to the eye.

Safety

Among the Asian countries, Turkmenistan is the safest country for tourists. Even Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's largest city, has a low crime rate. And crimes against citizens of other states are generally rare. There are frequent cases of theft among crowds of people. Pickpockets don't sleep. Do not leave your belongings, documents, or money unattended. This country is quite poor, and therefore crime is mainly theft. It is better not to visit remote areas at night. Some of them are generally closed to foreigners. There is practically no theft in the provinces. You can only stumble upon beggars or beggars. If you do not know the area, it is better to travel around it with the help of a guide. The Turkmen police are most often friendly. She does her job well. But to communicate with her, it is best to provide a passport.

Health

Turkmenistan is a Muslim country, and the Turkmens were among the first in the region to convert to Islam. However, faith has clearly visible national differences here. Tribal relations that have developed over centuries are no less important in Turkmenistan than religious dogmas. Even city residents clearly identify members of their tribal group, but in remote areas clan and tribal loyalties become simply dominant. Each tribal group easily distinguishes the dialect, style of clothing and jewelry, embroidery and even the texture and style of carpets of its group, and is well versed in the characteristics of other tribes.

Of all the Central Asian countries and peoples, the Turkmen are perhaps the most committed to their traditional clothing. Until now, many residents of the country with visible pleasure wear shaggy hats, long quilted robes, and loose trousers that look like bloomers. Women often wear long silk dresses and striped trousers, hiding their hair under light scarves and headscarves. And the point here is not at all about ethnic differences - such clothes are simply comfortable in the hot and dry local climate. And the ornaments also serve as protective signs.

A large number of customs and traditions accompany the entire life of local residents and the life of the family. For example, celebrating a wedding is one of the most important events in the life of Turkmens, not only of the bride and groom themselves, but of the entire community. In rural areas, where many old traditions that have come into local life since nomadic times have been preserved, all the preliminary preparations for the wedding are undertaken by special representatives of families. Kalym is another important part of the ceremony. Depending on the region and income, the size of the ransom varies, but the bride’s family may demand a truly huge bride price from the groom. And the wedding itself is a real holiday for the entire community. It can last several days and is usually calculated for several hundred guests.

Carpet weaving is another of the country's ancient traditions and a symbol of the Turkmen people. For the nomadic Turkmen, the carpet was always the only piece of furniture - easily transportable and warm carpets served to cover the outer edges of the kara-oy yurts, as flooring, and as a bed. At the same time, their elegant and intricate design, unique for each ethnic group, was both the calling card of the family and the decoration of the home. The art of carpet weaving, very complex and labor-intensive, was traditionally passed down from generation to generation, and the ability to weave beautiful carpets was considered one of the main benefactors of brides and wives. In Turkmenistan, the carpet was and is something sacred; even the flag of the country depicts carpet motifs. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that a real carpet is a work of art and is very expensive.

The same attention is paid to jewelry. These include numerous women's jewelry, which serves as an expression of traditions and a sign of social status, and men's items, which for many centuries were the main form of accumulation - a bag with treasury in a nomadic lifestyle would rather serve as a burden. Moreover, jewelry also has a symbolic status, indicating the age, marital and tribal status, social status and wealth of their owners. The works of Turkmen masters of the past have survived in large numbers to this day and are family heirlooms, carefully passed down from generation to generation. Modern jewelers are no less skilled. Moreover, not only luxury items are often artistically decorated, but also weapons, clothing, horse harnesses, household and religious items, as well as carpets and various utensils.

The Turkmens themselves, for the most part, are quite friendly and welcoming. Over the years of independence, the flow of tourists to the country has dropped greatly, and now meeting a foreigner is rare for many of them. And given the well-known cosmopolitan nature of the local residents, this factor is important for them - many Turkmen remember with nostalgia the times of the USSR and are very happy with “guests” from the north and beyond. Moreover, oddly enough, often these understandable emotions are hidden under a mask at the first contact "don't understand mine, yours", but it quickly "evaporates" with a sincere interest in the life and everyday life of the hosts. Well, taking into account the peculiarities of local hospitality, which many travelers put on a par with the Caucasian, communication with the Turkmens usually quite quickly turns into a pleasant experience for everyone. both sides event.

In recent years, official propaganda has quite clearly emphasized the exclusivity of the Turkmen people and the greatness of its leader, so cases of xenophobia still sometimes occur in local life. However, they are quite rare and belong mainly to representatives of the “90s generation”.

(translation Chronicle of Turkmenistan)

International charitable human rights Christian organization “Open Doors” published the worldwide Persecution Index 2015. The index evaluates 50 countries in which, one way or another, Christians are persecuted for their faith. We are publishing a translation of the section dedicated to Turkmenistan. The original publication can be found (German. PDF 4.6 MB).

In the 2015 World Persecution Index, Turkmenistan ranked 20th, the same as last year. In the early years, the situation with the Christian minority in Turkmenistan was quite stable. However, later the pressure of the state and society on Christians increased, which affected its position in this ranking.

Reasons for Persecution

The main reasons for the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan include “ Dictator's paranoia" And " Islamic extremism" Also, to some extent, “Systematic corruption” can be attributed to the reasons.

Dictator's paranoia: Turkmenistan has an autocratic regime of government, which is based on strict government control. The authorities prevent the formation of any independent groups, be they economic, social or cultural (which includes the church). The ruling elite under President Berdymukhamedov is ready to take whatever measures they consider necessary to maintain their power and are doing everything to suppress groups that they consider dangerous to themselves. As in other Central Asian countries, the government of Turkmenistan uses a variety of methods from the communist arsenal to control certain groups, including Christians. Another similarity with neighboring countries is that nothing can be achieved in the country without a bribe.

Islamic extremism: Despite the fact that at the moment no extremist groups have been noticed in Turkmenistan, it should be noted that Islam is an important part of Turkmen culture. The previous ruler stated that along with the Koran, it is also necessary to read the Ruhnama. Islam also plays an important role in everyday life, especially in rural areas. Society and relatives react very painfully when one of the relatives decides to abandon Islam and accept another faith. Many consider this unacceptable and the Christian minority and, in particular, those who previously belonged to the Muslim faith, must be prepared for strong pressure from society and family.

Policy influences

The dramatic development of Turkmenistan began after the discovery of huge gas and oil reserves in the country. Natural resources brought a lot of money to the country, thanks to which Ashgabat became a city of marble, at the same time Turkmenistan became absolutely dependent on the export of fossil fuels. In this case, only a small group of people close to power gets rich.

Turkmens live in a variety of countries: Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, northern Pakistan, Syria, the North Caucasus (Stavropol Territory). Separate groups of Turkmens maintain contact with each other. Turkmens have been seen fighting as part of Islamic jihadists in the Middle East (ISIS) and the Indian Subcontinent (Al Qaeda). The ruling regime in Ashgabat, fearing the influence of jihadists returning to the country, very closely monitors all religious movements.

Turkmenistan is considered one of the most repressive states in the world, in which there is no freedom of speech and information, all public associations are strictly controlled by government authorities, in addition, residents of the country have very limited access to foreign sources of information.

Affected Christian groups

There are 3 groups of Christians in Turkmenistan:

Traditional Russian Orthodox Church, which accepted all government restrictions. All church services are allowed to be held, although at times under the supervision of special services. At the same time, the printing and import of Christian literature is prohibited, as is the entry of foreign church workers.

Converts to Christianity Turkmen people feel the full force of persecution. In addition to the state, they are attacked by family, friends and society at large. The latter is especially painful, because... affects their daily life.

Neo-Protestantism- various movements of Christianity. Not registered in Turkmenistan. Their followers are fully persecuted by the country's authorities. They are subject to fines, attacks, threats and imprisonment.

Areas of life affected by persecution

The pressure on Christians in Turkmenistan is generally high, especially in the church sphere and private life, which are particularly affected by the consequences of religious persecution.

Church sphere

Any religious gathering is viewed with suspicion. Unregistered churches are raided and all literature is confiscated. The authorities are watching pastors and church leaders especially closely. It is still allowed to welcome young people into churches, but it is not allowed to train pastors.

According to data received by our organization, the authorities keep not only unregistered churches under close surveillance, but also authorized churches. They live under constant pressure and the threat of forced closure. According to the law, a church can be closed after three allegations of violations.

All Christian associations are required to register their activities. Every unregistered church is outlawed. Authorities use the religious affairs council to monitor religious gatherings. Every unregistered and authorized church is infiltrated by informers and churchgoers must constantly watch what they say.

Police and intelligence services constantly monitor churches in all regions of Turkmenistan and regularly conduct raids during masses. This applies even to legal churches. Religious education, upon completion of which young priests could receive official diplomas, is prohibited, with the exception of a few mosques and Russian Orthodox churches.

Private life

Christians also experience great pressure in their private lives. Telling anyone about your faith is extremely dangerous, especially for former Muslim converts to Christianity. They are constantly trying to force them to abandon their new faith; their relatives and friends turn away from them. Christian children are bullied in schools by their peers and teachers and given low grades.

Manifestations of cruelty

In general, religious violence is surprisingly rare in Turkmenistan. Only a few such cases have been reported in the media. Last year, not a single Christian was killed, not a single church was damaged. Since May 2013, no attacks on congregations have been reported and no believers have been detained. As far as we know, at the moment there is only one imprisoned Christian believer in Turkmenistan - Umid Gadzhaev. He was arrested in April 2012 in Dashoguz and a month later sentenced to 4 years in prison for hooliganism. Local Christians claim that Gadzhaev was convicted unfairly and was in fact arrested for his faith.

Conclusion

Turkmenistan is the most repressive state in Central Asia after Uzbekistan, and in the face of growing nationalism and a new spiritual leader in the person of the new president, the situation here is unlikely to change.