Updates from Turkmenistan and Bangladesh
by Staff
August 3, 2007
(christiansunite.com) - Turkmenistan:
Pastor Yevgeni Potolov (36), who was arrested and detained for his religious activity in the city of Turkmenbashi on May 19 (www.persecution.net/news/turkmenistan19.html), was deported to Russia on July 7, according to a July 18 report from Forum 18. Potolov, a Russian citizen, was declared "a dangerous person" by the Ministry of State Security secret police in a document they submitted to the Migration Service during his detention.
The official reason for his deportation has not been made public. His wife and children remain in Turkmenbashi.
Bangladesh:
When local Muslims attacked ten Christian converts in Nilphamari and threatened to kill them if they did not leave the community, the authorities stationed a special force in the community for three months to protect the Christians and allow them to stay in their homes (see www.persecution.net/news/bangladesh7.html).
According to a July 18 report from Compass Direct, however, the force stayed only a week before leaving. The believers are continuing to be intimidated and ostracized in an attempt to force them from the community.
On July 10, a local Christian named Hatem was questioned about his faith, beaten and bound. He was released the next day after the village chairman intervened. In the days that followed, other Christians were threatened and some escaped serious injury only because they were forewarned of plots against them.
Area church leaders are calling for renewed intervention to protect these Christians.
