Mr. Akram Nematov, Head of the International Department and Acting Head of the Department of Registration at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice
Bahais arrested in Uzbekistan for deceptively preaching and converting the children and Junior Youths
Tashkent Dated 25th July 2009
The Security department of Government of Uzbekistan while on routine Check arrested 20 Bahais for preaching Bahai Faith to the children and junior youth below 16 years. These children, from different cities were taken to Bahai centre in the name of moral teachings without the consent of their parents.The children were then taken to a Rehabilitation Centre from where they were handed to their parents. The Police recorded the whole proceedings in a camera. Recently the CIS countries are tightening the grip on this very deceptive sect whom they accuse of having links with Israel and destroying the moral fabrics of the society. The Christian priest have also objected to their deceptive propaganda and warned them to not to impart any so called moral teachings to Christian children.There has been news from different countries that Bahais are trying to convert the Junior Youth and Children by their deceptive four core activities.
1-Devotional Meetings
2-Study circles
3-Children classes
4-Junior Youth1-Devotional MeetingsBahais are supposed to collect their friends Neighbours relatives and Co-workers and have a prayer meeting. These devotional meetings are nothing but cheating in the name of God as the purpose of these meetings is to get POTENTIAL CONVERTS for the next stage which is of STUDY CIRCLE. It should be regarded as the gravest BETRAYAL OF THE HUMANITY in the Name of God.
2-Study Circles
1-After Bahais have got sufficient contact with the deceptive devotional meetings they are supposed to start with them Study circle. Study circle is a seven books course called as Ruhi Books. In these books moral teachings are taken from different religions and given the name Bahai Holy writings, attributing these teachings to Bahaullah .During the Course of these seven books the contact changes his Faith to Bahaism.It is certainly not study circles but a process of conversion by deception.The Bahais have realized that mobilizing Baha’is to do preaching in large numbers will attract the attention of non-Baha’is, especially governmental agencies therefore a Ruhi class is a better way.After seven books are completed he is a Ruhi Graduate and supposes to teach these books to the other people i.e. to gain conversion by deception. Naturally a chain deception reaction. A majority of the people who have accepted the Bahai faith is not due to the believe in Bahaullah but due their sheer ignorance.
Some points from Ruhi books
Ruhi Book 2
1-Imparting knowledge about the Bahai faith
2-‘Walking the path of service’ That is going to every individual and teaching about the Bahai faith
3-“Service to other” is nothing but teaching them the Bahai faith and converting them.
4-“The first act of service” is making the new convert stronger by visiting the homes of the newly converts.
5-Third unit is introducing Bahai beliefs
6- Teaching the writings of Bahaullah is our special activity
7- Sacrifice means “teaching the Bahai Faith.”Very surprisingly this bounty of teaching is not there for Israelis.
3-Children’s classes
(A way to increase Bahai population without any hindrance)Bahais are emphasizing too much on starting moral classes with non Bahai children.It is clear that the children cannot understand the hidden agenda behind these courses and they will become Bahais easily without any protest. More over the parents can also be approach to accept Bahaism.Some points from Ruhi Book 31-The students should acquire spiritual qualities i.e. he should accept Bahaullah.
2-Teaching children “Baha’i way of life.”
3-Try to form habits which is a Baha’i way of life Every lesson starts with Baha’i Prayers. It is nothing but Baha’i teachings, Baha’i prayers and Baha’i writings at the top of it; it is made for the children’s of the neighbour’s friends, relatives and co-workers.
Why non Baha’i children should be taught the sayings of Bahaullah and Abdul Baha and memorize Baha’i prayers??
1-Devotional Meetings
2-Study circles
3-Children classes
4-Junior Youth1-Devotional MeetingsBahais are supposed to collect their friends Neighbours relatives and Co-workers and have a prayer meeting. These devotional meetings are nothing but cheating in the name of God as the purpose of these meetings is to get POTENTIAL CONVERTS for the next stage which is of STUDY CIRCLE. It should be regarded as the gravest BETRAYAL OF THE HUMANITY in the Name of God.
2-Study Circles
1-After Bahais have got sufficient contact with the deceptive devotional meetings they are supposed to start with them Study circle. Study circle is a seven books course called as Ruhi Books. In these books moral teachings are taken from different religions and given the name Bahai Holy writings, attributing these teachings to Bahaullah .During the Course of these seven books the contact changes his Faith to Bahaism.It is certainly not study circles but a process of conversion by deception.The Bahais have realized that mobilizing Baha’is to do preaching in large numbers will attract the attention of non-Baha’is, especially governmental agencies therefore a Ruhi class is a better way.After seven books are completed he is a Ruhi Graduate and supposes to teach these books to the other people i.e. to gain conversion by deception. Naturally a chain deception reaction. A majority of the people who have accepted the Bahai faith is not due to the believe in Bahaullah but due their sheer ignorance.
Some points from Ruhi books
Ruhi Book 2
1-Imparting knowledge about the Bahai faith
2-‘Walking the path of service’ That is going to every individual and teaching about the Bahai faith
3-“Service to other” is nothing but teaching them the Bahai faith and converting them.
4-“The first act of service” is making the new convert stronger by visiting the homes of the newly converts.
5-Third unit is introducing Bahai beliefs
6- Teaching the writings of Bahaullah is our special activity
7- Sacrifice means “teaching the Bahai Faith.”Very surprisingly this bounty of teaching is not there for Israelis.
3-Children’s classes
(A way to increase Bahai population without any hindrance)Bahais are emphasizing too much on starting moral classes with non Bahai children.It is clear that the children cannot understand the hidden agenda behind these courses and they will become Bahais easily without any protest. More over the parents can also be approach to accept Bahaism.Some points from Ruhi Book 31-The students should acquire spiritual qualities i.e. he should accept Bahaullah.
2-Teaching children “Baha’i way of life.”
3-Try to form habits which is a Baha’i way of life Every lesson starts with Baha’i Prayers. It is nothing but Baha’i teachings, Baha’i prayers and Baha’i writings at the top of it; it is made for the children’s of the neighbour’s friends, relatives and co-workers.
Why non Baha’i children should be taught the sayings of Bahaullah and Abdul Baha and memorize Baha’i prayers??
Yes it is because the Bahais believe that everybody is a Baha’i or not yet Baha’i.
4-Junior Youth classes
For children of age 11 to 15 years, Bahais have Jr. Youth classes. Here also they propagate about Bahaism in the name of Moral teachings and convert the youths.
Uzbekistan deports another Baha’i for organizing "illegal meetings" in private homes
Sepehr Taheri, a Baha'i with British citizenship who had lived in the Uzbek capital Tashkent since 1990, is married to an Uzbek citizen and their children were all born there. In the wake of his deportation, a local news website accused Taheri of "propagandizing Baha'i religious teaching" and increasing the number of "proselytes" in the country. The website's chief editor defended to Forum 18 its publication of the article, which was written by the same author who attacked the previous Baha'i to be expelled from Uzbekistan.
According to a 5 February article by Abduvali Turaev on the Novosti Uzbekistana website, Taheri was working in Tashkent as an English language teacher. He was found guilty of violating the Code of Administrative Offences and, on 17 November 2009, was deported from Uzbekistan. The Baha'i community confirmed Taheri's deportation to Forum 18 without giving details.
The deportation of Taheri is the latest in a series of government moves against the Baha'i community, which has been able to register its groups in Tashkent, Samarkand, Jizak, Bukhara and Navoi.More than ten officers from the police and NSS secret police, together with an official of the City Justice Department and the head of the mahalla (city district) committee raided the Baha'i centre in Tashkent's Khamza District in July 2009.
Two Baha'is were found guilty of resisting the police, charges they denied, and sentenced to fifteen days' imprisonment. After that one of the two was expelled to neighboring Kazakhstan (see F18News 24 September 2009
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1353).
Turaev's article, "Sower of Alien Ideas", claimed that Taheri had come to live in Uzbekistan in 1990 "for mercenary reasons" and as a missionary. It claimed he married an Uzbek citizen "to legalize his presence in the country, to conceal his mercenary aims and to avoid being unmasked". The author alleged that "by concealing his real aims" he was able to set up nine Baha'i groups across Uzbekistan.
Turaev claimed Taheri had been arrested in August 2008 while "brainwashing" a local woman "with the aim of forcing her to change her religious views". But "on that occasion he was able to evade responsibility". The author then claims that Taheri organized the participation of more than 200 people from Uzbekistan in an "unsanctioned" meeting of Baha'is from Central Asia in Almaty in Kazakhstan in December 2008. The author claimed that most of those who went from Uzbekistan did not know they were going to a religious conference.
The author accused Taheri of organizing "illegal meetings" in private homes in Tashkent in the first three months of 2009, as well as invitations to foreign Baha'is to visit communities in the country. "It is natural that his activities were recognized as contradicting the laws of Uzbekistan," Turaev declared.
In September 24, 2009 another Baha’i Mr.Timur Chekparbayev, was deported for proselytism children as young as 16 years. Mr. Timur Chekparbayev carried out missionary and proselytizing activity without having the consent of the Uzbekistani authorities and the consent of the parents, it was in clear violation of the Uzbekistani law.http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1384).
Turaev's article, "Sower of Alien Ideas", claimed that Taheri had come to live in Uzbekistan in 1990 "for mercenary reasons" and as a missionary. It claimed he married an Uzbek citizen "to legalize his presence in the country, to conceal his mercenary aims and to avoid being unmasked". The author alleged that "by concealing his real aims" he was able to set up nine Baha'i groups across Uzbekistan.
Turaev claimed Taheri had been arrested in August 2008 while "brainwashing" a local woman "with the aim of forcing her to change her religious views". But "on that occasion he was able to evade responsibility". The author then claims that Taheri organized the participation of more than 200 people from Uzbekistan in an "unsanctioned" meeting of Baha'is from Central Asia in Almaty in Kazakhstan in December 2008. The author claimed that most of those who went from Uzbekistan did not know they were going to a religious conference.
The author accused Taheri of organizing "illegal meetings" in private homes in Tashkent in the first three months of 2009, as well as invitations to foreign Baha'is to visit communities in the country. "It is natural that his activities were recognized as contradicting the laws of Uzbekistan," Turaev declared.
In September 24, 2009 another Baha’i Mr.Timur Chekparbayev, was deported for proselytism children as young as 16 years. Mr. Timur Chekparbayev carried out missionary and proselytizing activity without having the consent of the Uzbekistani authorities and the consent of the parents, it was in clear violation of the Uzbekistani law.http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1384).
Secretly Proselytizing Bahais deported from Uzbekistan
The Government of Uzbekistan deported a number of Bahais from the neighboring countries as they were secretly involved in propagation of Baha’i Faith. About 15 Bahais were arrested by the religious ministry on information provided by local Mahalla committee that a full scale deceptive conversion was on its way in Tashkent Baha’i centre.
A similar incident was reported by government authorities in Samarkand in December 2008
Uzbekistan has recently been through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, and its response to recommendations was considered in Geneva on 27 July. An official responsible for registration of the Religious places in the capital Tashkent replied that "these are our internal issues, and you have no competence to interfere”.
Bahais employ deceptive, unethical conversion techniques .Deceptive in the sense that the convert never understand that he has been converted and unethical because it is aimed at children and youths below 16 years of age. The mechanism is called as children MORAL classes and junior youth empowerment programme.
They use sophisticated unethical, fraudulent mind manipulation techniques to trap and convert innocent citizens. Bahais are from an unethical and potentially dangerous, oppressive political movements with hidden agendas. The innocent, uneducated and downtrodden people are easy victims to such, brainwashing techniques and deceptive conversion practices.
Last year in Yemen four Bahais were arrested by the Interior ministry for secretly propagation of Baha’i Faith. The three Baha’is of Iranian origin, Zia’u’llah Pourahmari, Keyvan Qadari, and Behrooz Rohani, were arrested in Sana’a, on the night of June 20, 2008. A fourth Baha’i, Sayfi Ibrahim Sayfi, was also arrested around the same time and faces the possibility of deportation to Iraq.
According to the source close to the group, the men were arrested and taken to the national security headquarters’ prison where they spent 40 days – most of the time in isolated cells – before being sent to Sana’a General Investigation Department.
Iran has also arrested a number of Bahais many times for their secret conversion activity directed at children and Youths.
Iran did not see the Bahaists merely as an astray sect but considered it as an organization which despite claiming to be non-political is very political and therefore sought power to materialize their objectives. While from the very beginning the sect had been a tool of colonialist political powers toward undermining the beliefs and disrupting the national identity. The ties between the US policies and Zionism and the ties of the Bahaists with these two coupled with their objectives for domination over Iran is no more a secret. Bahaism is a tool in the hand of the modern colonialism, weapon of the enemies of the country and a threat to the independence of Iran.
The world’s largest democracy India with all its secular credentials has come out with “Anti conversion law” in its 11 states so as to prevent this very secret sect from deceptive propagation.
According to a report published in India’s leading Newspaper, The Hindustan Times in July 2006, In a complaint filed in city court the members of National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of India has accused their colleagues of using impersonations and forgery managed to clandestinely penetrate into prohibited defense establishment of the country and get hold of classified documents and supplied to Israeli and Iranian spying agencies.
Parents Be Aware of “Baha’i cup of Tea” for Your Children
A similar incident was reported by government authorities in Samarkand in December 2008
Uzbekistan has recently been through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, and its response to recommendations was considered in Geneva on 27 July. An official responsible for registration of the Religious places in the capital Tashkent replied that "these are our internal issues, and you have no competence to interfere”.
Bahais employ deceptive, unethical conversion techniques .Deceptive in the sense that the convert never understand that he has been converted and unethical because it is aimed at children and youths below 16 years of age. The mechanism is called as children MORAL classes and junior youth empowerment programme.
They use sophisticated unethical, fraudulent mind manipulation techniques to trap and convert innocent citizens. Bahais are from an unethical and potentially dangerous, oppressive political movements with hidden agendas. The innocent, uneducated and downtrodden people are easy victims to such, brainwashing techniques and deceptive conversion practices.
Last year in Yemen four Bahais were arrested by the Interior ministry for secretly propagation of Baha’i Faith. The three Baha’is of Iranian origin, Zia’u’llah Pourahmari, Keyvan Qadari, and Behrooz Rohani, were arrested in Sana’a, on the night of June 20, 2008. A fourth Baha’i, Sayfi Ibrahim Sayfi, was also arrested around the same time and faces the possibility of deportation to Iraq.
According to the source close to the group, the men were arrested and taken to the national security headquarters’ prison where they spent 40 days – most of the time in isolated cells – before being sent to Sana’a General Investigation Department.
Iran has also arrested a number of Bahais many times for their secret conversion activity directed at children and Youths.
Iran did not see the Bahaists merely as an astray sect but considered it as an organization which despite claiming to be non-political is very political and therefore sought power to materialize their objectives. While from the very beginning the sect had been a tool of colonialist political powers toward undermining the beliefs and disrupting the national identity. The ties between the US policies and Zionism and the ties of the Bahaists with these two coupled with their objectives for domination over Iran is no more a secret. Bahaism is a tool in the hand of the modern colonialism, weapon of the enemies of the country and a threat to the independence of Iran.
The world’s largest democracy India with all its secular credentials has come out with “Anti conversion law” in its 11 states so as to prevent this very secret sect from deceptive propagation.
According to a report published in India’s leading Newspaper, The Hindustan Times in July 2006, In a complaint filed in city court the members of National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of India has accused their colleagues of using impersonations and forgery managed to clandestinely penetrate into prohibited defense establishment of the country and get hold of classified documents and supplied to Israeli and Iranian spying agencies.
Parents Be Aware of “Baha’i cup of Tea” for Your Children
Timur Chekparbayev a 36 year old Baha’i from Kazakhstan goes to Uzbekistan invites children and Junior youth of Uzbekistan proselytizes them about Baha’i Faith, when caught red handed says” we were having Tea together and for having a cup of tea neither the consent of parents nor any authority is required”.
Following 15-day jail terms handed down to two Baha'is in Tashkent, one of the two, Timur Chekparbayev, who was subsequently expelled from Uzbekistan. The authorities accused the two of missionary activity and proselytism, following a police raid on a meeting for teenage Children.
Chekparbayev stated that these were not conversion meetings with young children and Jr. Youth but it was just to drink a cup of tea together.
In response. Akram Nematov of the Justice Ministry told Forum 18 that "They can drink tea – that's not forbidden, but they must inform the Department when they HOLD RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WITH YOUNG PEOPLE."
It is clear that Mr. Chekparbaev arrived in Uzbekistan with the aim of propagating Baha’i Faith in the country, drawing on the support of generous donations from sponsors. By the way, the headquarters of the Baha’is operate in the open in Israel.
Certain elements from that country find it very useful to use the Baha’i community to shatter the unity of the Muslim ranks, since the Jews see Islam as the main opponent of Judaism. It is also interesting that in the dawn of Baha’ism, Russia offered asylum to one of the leaders of this persecuted religion.
And in Ashkhabad [Turkmenistan], one of the Baha’i communities was built.
Timur Chekparbayev carried out missionary and proselytizing activity without having the consent of the Uzbekistani authorities and the consent of the parents, it was in clear violation of the Uzbekistani law, and the rules governing stays in the country.
On the 24th of July of this year, Mr. Chekparbaev was arrested and sent to the court for holding yet another “meeting” in house 36 on Bayikurganska Street in the Khamzin region of Tashkent. The regional court gave him a rather lenient sentence: 15 days in prison followed by an expulsion from the country without a right to return.
Chekparbaev couldn’t carry out his proselytizing activity because Baha’i isn’t recognized as a religion by the world community. Therefore, this ideological sabotage had very clear goals that are connected to increasing the geo-political influence of Israel, and sowing confusion in the minds of millions of Uzbekistani citizens.
It seems that such a decisive step taken by Mr. Akram Nematov will defiantly stop this sort of deceptive proselytizes activity aimed at destroying the unity and moral fabrics of Uzbekistan.
It will also serve as a warning to all those who wish to test their luck based on the questionable field of false prophets.
The decision taken by Uzbekistani authorities should be an eye opener for the CIS Countries to counter the moral damage inflicted on the fragile souls on young people (by the way, Mr. Chekparbaev’s so-called flock included minors!).
A constant vigil at this deceptive and Zionist created false and fabricated religion is the need of the time.This is Zionism attempt of transferring the work of false prophet Bahaullah from their country to Muslim countries and take vital information of CIS and Middle East countries.
Mohammed Sami
26-09-09
Following 15-day jail terms handed down to two Baha'is in Tashkent, one of the two, Timur Chekparbayev, who was subsequently expelled from Uzbekistan. The authorities accused the two of missionary activity and proselytism, following a police raid on a meeting for teenage Children.
Chekparbayev stated that these were not conversion meetings with young children and Jr. Youth but it was just to drink a cup of tea together.
In response. Akram Nematov of the Justice Ministry told Forum 18 that "They can drink tea – that's not forbidden, but they must inform the Department when they HOLD RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WITH YOUNG PEOPLE."
It is clear that Mr. Chekparbaev arrived in Uzbekistan with the aim of propagating Baha’i Faith in the country, drawing on the support of generous donations from sponsors. By the way, the headquarters of the Baha’is operate in the open in Israel.
Certain elements from that country find it very useful to use the Baha’i community to shatter the unity of the Muslim ranks, since the Jews see Islam as the main opponent of Judaism. It is also interesting that in the dawn of Baha’ism, Russia offered asylum to one of the leaders of this persecuted religion.
And in Ashkhabad [Turkmenistan], one of the Baha’i communities was built.
Timur Chekparbayev carried out missionary and proselytizing activity without having the consent of the Uzbekistani authorities and the consent of the parents, it was in clear violation of the Uzbekistani law, and the rules governing stays in the country.
On the 24th of July of this year, Mr. Chekparbaev was arrested and sent to the court for holding yet another “meeting” in house 36 on Bayikurganska Street in the Khamzin region of Tashkent. The regional court gave him a rather lenient sentence: 15 days in prison followed by an expulsion from the country without a right to return.
Chekparbaev couldn’t carry out his proselytizing activity because Baha’i isn’t recognized as a religion by the world community. Therefore, this ideological sabotage had very clear goals that are connected to increasing the geo-political influence of Israel, and sowing confusion in the minds of millions of Uzbekistani citizens.
It seems that such a decisive step taken by Mr. Akram Nematov will defiantly stop this sort of deceptive proselytizes activity aimed at destroying the unity and moral fabrics of Uzbekistan.
It will also serve as a warning to all those who wish to test their luck based on the questionable field of false prophets.
The decision taken by Uzbekistani authorities should be an eye opener for the CIS Countries to counter the moral damage inflicted on the fragile souls on young people (by the way, Mr. Chekparbaev’s so-called flock included minors!).
A constant vigil at this deceptive and Zionist created false and fabricated religion is the need of the time.This is Zionism attempt of transferring the work of false prophet Bahaullah from their country to Muslim countries and take vital information of CIS and Middle East countries.
Mohammed Sami
26-09-09
UZBEKISTAN: 'They can drink tea – that's not forbidden'"
By Felix Corley ("Forum 18 News Service", September 24, 2009)
Tashkent, Uzbekistan - Following 15-day jail terms handed down to two Baha'is in Tashkent, one of the two, Timur Chekparbayev, who was subsequently expelled from Uzbekistan, told Forum 18 News Service that he harbours no ill feelings. "I don't want to complain – I don't blame anyone."
The authorities accused the two of missionary activity and proselytism, following a police raid on a meeting for teenage Baha'is. Chekparbayev stated that these claims are unfounded, and pointed out that the meeting was a regular activity which took place with the permission of both the authorities and the parents of the young people involved.
Asked whether religious communities have to inform the authorities when they hold any religious event or drink a cup of tea together, Akram Nematov of the Justice Ministry told Forum 18 that "They can drink tea – that's not forbidden, but they must inform the Department when they hold religious education with young people."
The Baha'i community is shocked and mystified by the raid and the detentions.
One of the two Baha'is imprisoned for fifteen days in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent after a raid on a July meeting – and who was subsequently expelled from the country - has insisted to Forum 18 News Service that he harbours no ill feelings. "I don't want to complain – I don't blame anyone,"
Timur Chekparbayev told Forum 18 from the Kazakh city of Almaty on 22 September. He said accusations that he was a missionary are unfounded. "It is a misunderstanding of the status and activity of the Baha'is. We don't have priests or missionaries in our faith." In the wake of the raid he and fellow Baha'i Eliyor Nematov – who was visiting Tashkent from Bukhara [Bukhoro] - were accused of missionary activity and proselytism. However, Chekparbayev insisted that, while a Kazakh citizen, he had made his home in Tashkent in 2004, for family reasons, and has the necessary temporary registration to live in the city. His wife is Uzbek and their three children were all born there. Chekparbayev said the youth meeting broken up by police on 24 July did not directly concern the teaching of their faith. "It was about social economic endeavour for the betterment of society," he explained to Forum 18. "This programme includes acts of service such as helping elderly people and cleaning the environment. By its nature it has nothing to do with proselytism." He said Baha'is are forbidden by their own laws to proselytise. "They engage in acts of service and this was the case of the youth meeting in order to prepare for such service." Defending what he termed the "check-up" on the Baha'i community was Akram Nematov, the head of the Justice Ministry department that registers religious organisations (no relation to the detained Baha'i). "One official from Tashkent City Justice Department was involved," he told Forum 18 from Tashkent on 23 September. "
The Justice Department investigation established that the community was attracting young people to religious events without permission from their parents, didn't inform the Justice Department that it was holding an educational event on that day, didn't present written permission from parents allowing their children to attend, and was using religious literature that wasn't approved by the Religious Affairs Committee." Missionary activity and proselytism are criminal offences in Uzbekistan, and the authorities are hostile to children being involved in religious activities (see Forum 18 religious freedom ) http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1170).
Nematov of the Justice Ministry told Forum 18 that officials "removed for examination" – he rejected suggestions that this was "confiscation" – religious books the Baha'is were using and sent them to the Religious Affairs Committee to verify if they have been approved. Asked what the evaluation of the Committee had been and whether the books have been returned, given that the raid took place two months earlier, he responded that he did not know.
Religious literature is often confiscated during raids on religious communities, and may subsequently be destroyed
(see F18News 1 July 2008 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1153).
Asked whether religious communities have to inform their local Justice Department when they hold any religious event or drink a cup of tea together,
Nematov responded: "They can drink tea – that's not forbidden, but they must inform the Department when they hold religious education with young people." Told that the Baha'is maintain that most if not all the parents had given written permission for their children to attend events at the Baha'i centre, Nematov declared: "That's not the information that I have. How do you know they're not lying?" Asked why if these accusations were made against the community, Timur Chekparbayev and Eliyor Nematov were found guilty on a completely unrelated charge of resisting the activity of a police officer, Akram Nematov said he did not know. He said he was not aware that the two men had been sentenced to prison terms nor that Chekparbayev had subsequently been expelled from the country. Nematov said that his department at the Justice Ministry had, after the raid and a subsequent complaint from the Baha'i community, investigated the actions of the Ministry's Tashkent city Department. He stressed that his Ministry is only responsible for the actions of its officials not of other agencies. He said if the Baha'is are still unhappy they can challenge officials' actions in court. Chekparbayev said the Baha'i community is shocked and mystified by the raid and the detentions. "This is the first time we have experienced anything like this," he told Forum 18. "The authorities have always shown a good attitude. The government's Religious Affairs Committee has always given us permission for the literature we have asked for." He insisted that most if not all the literature had been approved by the Religious Affairs Committee or had been obtained before 1998 when religious censorship was introduced, that most if not all the parents had signed letters permitting the attendance of their children and that the meeting had been a regular event that fell within the activity specified in their registered charter. The official who answered the phone at the Religious Affairs Committee in Tashkent on 23 September said Committee chair Artyk Yusupov and its specialist Begzot Kadyrov were both away on work trips and said no-one else could answer Forum 18's questions about the raid on the Baha'i community and the punishments, or what has happened to the literature confiscated from them. The Baha'i community in Tashkent has had state registration since 1991. The Baha'is have four other registered communities in Uzbekistan – in Samarkand, Jizak, Bukhara and Navoi. Meeting raided Trouble began on the afternoon of 24 July, during the day-long meeting for teenage Baha'is. More than ten officers from the police and NSS secret police, together with an official of the City Justice Department and the head of the mahalla (city district) committee arrived at the Baha'i centre in Tashkent's Khamza District. They said it was a "planned check-up", Chekparbayev said, though they then locked the door. Police began filming participants. Police insisted that the nine members of the governing Spiritual Assembly be summoned, and Chekparbayev – who had not been present at the meeting – was the first to arrive. He said he was asked to explain on camera who he was and what role he had. "I explained on camera that this was a regular meeting to deepen knowledge of our faith in line with the provisions of our charter," he told Forum 18. "
Nematov responded: "They can drink tea – that's not forbidden, but they must inform the Department when they hold religious education with young people." Told that the Baha'is maintain that most if not all the parents had given written permission for their children to attend events at the Baha'i centre, Nematov declared: "That's not the information that I have. How do you know they're not lying?" Asked why if these accusations were made against the community, Timur Chekparbayev and Eliyor Nematov were found guilty on a completely unrelated charge of resisting the activity of a police officer, Akram Nematov said he did not know. He said he was not aware that the two men had been sentenced to prison terms nor that Chekparbayev had subsequently been expelled from the country. Nematov said that his department at the Justice Ministry had, after the raid and a subsequent complaint from the Baha'i community, investigated the actions of the Ministry's Tashkent city Department. He stressed that his Ministry is only responsible for the actions of its officials not of other agencies. He said if the Baha'is are still unhappy they can challenge officials' actions in court. Chekparbayev said the Baha'i community is shocked and mystified by the raid and the detentions. "This is the first time we have experienced anything like this," he told Forum 18. "The authorities have always shown a good attitude. The government's Religious Affairs Committee has always given us permission for the literature we have asked for." He insisted that most if not all the literature had been approved by the Religious Affairs Committee or had been obtained before 1998 when religious censorship was introduced, that most if not all the parents had signed letters permitting the attendance of their children and that the meeting had been a regular event that fell within the activity specified in their registered charter. The official who answered the phone at the Religious Affairs Committee in Tashkent on 23 September said Committee chair Artyk Yusupov and its specialist Begzot Kadyrov were both away on work trips and said no-one else could answer Forum 18's questions about the raid on the Baha'i community and the punishments, or what has happened to the literature confiscated from them. The Baha'i community in Tashkent has had state registration since 1991. The Baha'is have four other registered communities in Uzbekistan – in Samarkand, Jizak, Bukhara and Navoi. Meeting raided Trouble began on the afternoon of 24 July, during the day-long meeting for teenage Baha'is. More than ten officers from the police and NSS secret police, together with an official of the City Justice Department and the head of the mahalla (city district) committee arrived at the Baha'i centre in Tashkent's Khamza District. They said it was a "planned check-up", Chekparbayev said, though they then locked the door. Police began filming participants. Police insisted that the nine members of the governing Spiritual Assembly be summoned, and Chekparbayev – who had not been present at the meeting – was the first to arrive. He said he was asked to explain on camera who he was and what role he had. "I explained on camera that this was a regular meeting to deepen knowledge of our faith in line with the provisions of our charter," he told Forum 18. "
I pointed out that only Baha'is and the children of Baha'is were present." Chekparbayev said police were questioning the teenagers directly, and he told them not to answer any questions as children are not allowed to be interrogated unless their parents or a lawyer are present. Chekparbayev said the parents of the children had given written permission for them to attend events at the Baha'i centre, but said officials insisted that such letters of permission had to be officially notarised. (Nematov of the Justice Ministry told Forum 18 that such letters do not need to be notarised.)
Police then took all the teenagers and about ten adults to the Khamza District Police station, including Chekparbayev. All the adults were photographed. The teenagers were later that evening put in a bus and taken to a holding centre for their parents to collect them. Prison terms While all the other adults were also freed that evening, Chekparbayev and Nematov were held overnight. They were accused of conducting proselytism and missionary activity, as well as of resisting a police officer. The following day they were separately brought before Khamza District Court.
They were each found guilty of violating Article 195 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which punishes "resisting police officers in carrying out their duties".
They were each given the maximum term under the Article of fifteen days' imprisonment. Neither was fined. Forum 18 believes that several other adults who had attended the meeting were also subsequently fined. The chancellery of Khamza District Court refused to confirm to Forum 18 on 23 September the sentences imposed on Chekparbayev and Nematov, or to reveal how many Baha'is had been fined. Chekparbayev and Nematov served the prison term in the detention centre of the City Police in Kuyluk District. This is the same prison where – a few weeks later - four Protestants were held after being sentenced to fifteen days' imprisonment on 24 August (see F18News 26 August 2009 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1341). However, when the two Baha'is' prison sentences were over on 9 August, Chekparbayev was not freed but instead taken to the border post with neighbouring Kazakhstan on the pretext of checking his immigration status. He told Forum 18 that border guards indicated to him that his documents were in order, but the police insisted he had to leave the country. "They gave no reason and no documentation." However, he said he believes there is no reason why he cannot return as he was not deported and his passport has not been marked. Chekparbayev told Forum 18 that he was treated well both in the police station and in the detention centre. He believes he may have been singled out because he refused to sign any document at the police station or when he was expelled from Uzbekistan. Hostile state-backed media coverage Chekparbayev's case became known when the state-backed website Gorizont.uz published an article on 16 September accusing him of "active propaganda for the ideas of the Baha'i religious community". Stressing that he is a 36-year-old Kazakh citizen, it claimed – wrongly - that because of this he had been deported without the right to return. Pointing out that the Baha'i faith has its roots in Iran, and ignoring the fact that Baha'is have suffered severe persecution there since the Islamic revolution of 1979, the website declared: "
It is completely clear that Mr Chekparbayev arrived in Uzbekistan with the aim of creating an Iranian transplant, relying for support on the lavish input from sponsors."
Chekparbayev expressed his concern to Forum 18 at the allegations, which he rejected. "How can the authorities accuse us of being Iranian agents when the case of the persecution of Bahais in Iran is well known to the world?" he asked. "Baha'is are persecuted in Iran just because of their belief. The whole thing is a big misunderstanding."
The Gorizont article also pointed to the Baha'is' worldwide headquarters in the Israeli city of Haifa, claiming that some Jews have identified the Baha'i faith as a means to "smash the unity" of the Muslim community. It also claimed that the Baha'i faith "is not recognised by the international community as an independent and official religion" and accused it of conducting "ideological subversion" aiming to "sow confusion in the souls of millions of inhabitants of Uzbekistan".
Gorizont.uz reported Chekparbayev's 24 July detention - but did not reveal the extent of the raid - and his sentence, though without reporting the punishments imposed on the other Baha'is. The state-controlled mass media is used to encourage intolerance of religious groups the government dislikes, as well as opposition to freedom of religion or belief in the country
(see eg. F18News 12 January 2009 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1239).
Your Blog on Bahais of Uzbekistan is very informative
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful description of Bahai Faith!!!
ReplyDeleteBaha'is have clandestine meetings and hidden agenda for Muslim countries.
ReplyDeleteI think Bahai Faith is not a religion but a social organization
ReplyDelete"I would like to request the webmaster to delete all the comments from Susan. Her comments are absolutely misleading and false. She tries to blog on every site and vomits out some fabricated and false comments with the intention that one day or other the Universal House of Justice will take a note of her endeavors and gives her some responsibility in Baha’i Administration which she is trying to gain since long. She is a master manipulator whose intention is absolutely doubtful. I have sufficient proof that she is a non Baha’i, unreliable illiterate and uncivilized. If she is interested for her promotion in Baha’i Administration, she may start www.susan.com. And not use other sites and blogs for the purpose."
ReplyDeleteJames19
Mr. Modretor you have banned mrs susan maneck from the blog. she creates lot of problem on other site also. can you influence other site moderator to banned from those sites also.
ReplyDeletethankyou. weldone.