Amendments to Tajikistan’s 2009 Religion Law, which were enforced in January, have given the state “total control” over religious freedoms, regional news agency Forum 18 reported. 

Evangelical leaders had been hopeful that restrictions on religious liberty might be eased, but the amendments only increased them.

“A harsh religion law passed in 2009 rendered all evangelism conducted without government approval illegal and drove the evangelical church in Tajikistan almost entirely underground,” Mission Eurasia reported. “Persecution is a daily concern for those who wish to share the Gospel; however, Tajikistan’s leaders deny accusations that they are violating religious freedom rights.”

Tajikistan is 29th on the 2019 Open Doors World Watch List.