Anonymous sources
Forum 18
UZBEKISTAN: Continuing freedom of movement bans - Forum 18
The assistant to official Human Rights Ombudsperson Sayora Rashidova, who refused to give her name, on 4 April also refused to comment or put Forum 18 through to Rashidova. She referred Forum 18 to Saidbek Azimov, Legal Expert of the Ombudsperson's ...
KYRGYZSTAN: "I received it from heaven" - Forum 18
Ahmadi Muslims, who asked not to be named for fear of state reprisals, told Forum 18 that since July they had stopped meeting for worship in the hope that they will receive state permission to exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief. ...
UZBEKISTAN: Illegal prosecutions and punishments - Forum 18
Baptists, who asked not to be named for fear of state reprisals, stated to Forum 18 on 28 November that the case was "fabricated", with a "fake" witness. They stated that an Ergash Ermakbayev was produced in court as a witness, but he did not produce ...
KAZAKHSTAN: "Inform on a daily basis between 2 pm and 4 pm" - Forum 18
Asked why the Internal Policy Department was expecting religious communities to do something that was not required in the Religion Law, the official – who refused to give his name – eventually said: "We can't give any commentary by phone. ...
KAZAKHSTAN: "Those who initiated and adopted such laws will answer before Allah" - Forum 18
When Forum 18 asked for the Chair of the Court, she refused to give his name but said that she could take a question for him. She took down Forum 18's questions on why the Court heard the appeal in Zimens' absence and why he was being fined for not ...
UZBEKISTAN: New haj pilgrimage, same old restrictions - Forum 18
An official of a mahalla committee in Tashkent's Mirza-Ulugbek District, who asked not to be named, complained to Forum 18 that their District has around 250000 residents but can send only between 30 to 40 pilgrims each year. The official said that it ...
UZBEKISTAN: Did authorities block Russian Patriarch's visit? - Forum 18
An official (who refused to give her name) of the Presidential Administration's Department for Nationalities and Religions on 1 November refused to comment on whether or not Uzbekistan had blocked the visit. She referred Forum 18 to the Foreign ...
KAZAKHSTAN: President signs two laws restricting freedom of religion or belief - Forum 18
An official of the Kostanai Regional Border Control Directorate – who refused to give his name – told Forum 18 on 4 October that the confiscated items had been sent for an "expert analysis" by unnamed state agencies. He said that "in the interests of ...
KAZAKHSTAN: "They are not real Imams" - Forum 18
The assistant (who refused to give her name) of ARA Chair Lama Sharif said that he was busy in a meeting, and that she could not answer questions. She then referred Forum 18 to Deputy Chair Ardak Doszhan. Doszhan brushed off Forum 18's questions, ...
BELARUS: "Inmates are afraid of exercising their religious freedom rights" - Forum 18
When asked for the reason for executing convicts before they can receive a clergy visit, an officer on duty - who wouldn't give his name - explained politely to Forum 18 on 3 August that "such a difficult question can't be answered on the phone". ...
TAJIKISTAN: Bans on children's religious activity, illegal meetings, and ... - Forum 18
A Religious Affairs Committee official, who refused to give his name, told Forum 18 on 21 June that Muslim adults or children wishing to receive Islamic education "need to enrol in the officially registered medresses or attend study groups at the ...
AZERBAIJAN: Police "did well" in Sumgait raids - Forum 18
He refused to give his name, telling Forum 18: "I don't know who you are. You might be a terrorist or Azerbaijan's enemy No. 1." Within the space of three days in mid-May, three Protestant communities in the town of Sumgait (Sumqayit) north of the ...
AZERBAIJAN: Riot police versus worshippers - Forum 18
The worship bans were imposed in mid-March because the communities do not have state registration, local people who asked not to be identified for fear of state reprisals told Forum 18. However, Babek Sadykov, Senior Assistant to Gyanja's Police Chief, ...
KAZAKHSTAN: Worship banned in private homes, universities - Forum 18
One of his colleagues – who refused to give her name – insisted to Forum 18 the same day that "everything was done in accordance with the law". She maintained that Rauilov had stolen the extra 10 square metres of land from the state. ...
TURKMENISTAN: Literature import controls lifted for Orthodox - but not for others - Forum 18
Members of a Protestant church away from Ashgabad have been especially closely monitored since the beginning of the year, Protestants who asked not to be identified told Forum 18. Muslim leaders met in a local mosque to discuss what action to take ...
TAJIKISTAN: When is a mosque not a mosque? - Forum 18
The imam asked not to be named for fear of the authorities. Hajji Muhammadali Faiz-Muhammad of the Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP), Central Asia's only ...
RUSSIA: Traffic Police start searches for religious literature - Forum 18
An officer at the Uspensky post, who refused to give his name, defended the stopping of the minibuses and confiscation of the Jehovah's Witnesses' ...
AZERBAIJAN: Nakhichevan - "No trial – they were just held" - Forum 18
The press officer at the NSM secret police in Baku – who refused to give his name – insisted to Forum 18 on 18 May that no such arrests had happened. ...
UZBEKISTAN: Ten year sentence for "honest Christian" - Forum 18
"The case has now been referred to the Regional Court," an official of the City Court, who refused to give his name, told Forum 18 from Guliston on 11 March ...
UZBEKISTAN: Muslims and Jehovah's Witness tried, praying prisoner "committed ... - Forum 18
The Bukhara prison guard who answered the phone on 9 March at Bukhara Interior Ministry investigation prison - who refused to give his name - told Forum 18 ...
AZERBAIJAN: Raids, fines, detentions, and another birth certificate denial - Forum 18
"There is no persecution of religious believers in Azerbaijan," the official – who declined to give his name – told Forum 18 on 24 February. ...