Pray for Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is 80 percent desert, but under the surface, it holds one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, bringing it great wealth. It has enjoyed relative peace for the last several decades. Literacy and secondary school completion rates are high for both men and women, and legally, women have the same rights as men. However, both men and women experience severe restrictions on civil and political rights. Turkmenistan has one of the most repressive and authoritarian governments in the world. Most of the people’s political rights and civil liberties are denied, including freedom of movement, expression, and religion. Academic freedom and private property rights are also restricted.

Despite the wealth generated by the natural gas industry, many of the Turkmen people are impoverished and unemployed. Exploitation and forced labor are significant issues, and child labor is also common. To get a job, a passport, or entry into a university, people are often forced to pay bribes. Even when they can afford a passport, they face strict travel bans that trap them within the country. Life at home is also dangerous; domestic violence rates are high, and cultural norms are so deeply ingrained that a majority of the population — including women — believes a husband has a right to hit his wife.

Religious groups are subject to strict government regulation, and unauthorized religious groups risk harassment, police raids, fines, short-term detention, and confiscation of religious literature. Yet some Christian communities continue to worship and share their faith. Around 9 percent of the population identifies as Russian Orthodox Christian, which is a registered religion, while a few thousand evangelical Christians worship in private and risk the consequences of being found. The government prohibits foreign missionaries, and several pastors have been exiled, beaten, or imprisoned. The Bible has been fully translated into Turkmen, but distributing it is challenging. Yet, the Church continues to grow amid constant threat.