The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a report on Religious Freedom Challenges for Jehovah’s Witnesses. It highlights the challenges faced by Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world and in 12 countries of concern. This includes all five of the Central Asian countries as well as Turkmenistan. Jehovah’s Witnesses are members of a Christian-based religious movement.
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Turkmenistan face severe restrictions on their religious freedom. They are denied registration and thus do not have the legal recognition necessary to practice their religion. Turkmen authorities impose oppressive measures, such as harassment, arrests, and imprisonment for practicing their faith. In October 2023, authorities detained a Jehovah’s Witness from Turkmenabad for 10 days for sharing his beliefs. He was threatened with a prison sentence, filmed without consent and prevented from using the restroom. In January 2024, a Jehovah’s Witness home in Sakar was raided by police who detained five people and interrogated them for eight hours.
Moreover, Jehovah’s Witnesses faced issues over their conscientious objection to serve in the military. In Turkmenistan military service is required under the law. However, there is no alternative civilian service for conscientious objectors. In 2021 the final remaining 16 Jehovah’s Witnesses imprisoned for conscientious objection were pardoned, and since then no new arrests were reported. Meanwhile, Jehovah’s Witnesses still do not have legal protections to conscientious objection under the law and remain vulnerable to arrest. And those who previously served prison time face difficulties getting employment and other services because of their criminal records tied to their conscientious objection, which the government has not erased.
As the report states, Turkmenistan has an obligation under international law to protect and preserve the freedom of religion or belief for Jehovah’s Witnesses, including the right to conscientious objection.
