Bakhrom Kholmatov

Update December 19, 2019

In a wonderful Christmas gift for his family, Bakhrom Kholmatov was freed early from prison today, a little more than three months earlier than his original release date. Praise God, and pray for the family as they reunite.

Update August 23, 2019

Bakhrom’s Kholmatov’s family say they are looking forward to Bakhrom’s expected release date in April of 2020. The first two years were a struggle, his wife, Gulnora, said, but now that his release date is less than a year away, she feels like she is on the downward slope of a difficult season. Gulnora's health has improved, though not fully. Continue to pray for the family as they finish this time strongly.

Update December 4, 2018

The wife of Bakhrom Kholmatov says he is doing reasonably well. Bakhrom's wife, Gulnora, reports that he feels good and that his fellow prisoners treat him well. His two sons, who live in Russia, were able to visit him recently, and Gulnora says she continues to receive letters of encouragement from Christians around the world, though she says Bakhrom has not received the letters sent to him. Please continue to pray for Pastor Bakhrom and his family.

Update January 19, 2018

Please pray for Pastor Bakhrom’s wife, Gulnora, who has just been admitted to the hospital. She traveled to visit her husband in prison and fell suddenly ill. She was taken to a local hospital before she was even able to see her husband. The doctors diagnosed a hypertension (high blood pressure) crisis. Gulnora was transferred to a hospital nearer to her home, and her daughter is caring for her. Her high blood pressure began when her husband was arrested.

You can write to the family with encouragement:

Family Kholmatov

Mikrorajon 32, house nr. 50

Hudjand

Sogdijsk region

735700

Tajikistan

Update August 31, 2017

On Aug. 18, the Sogd Regional Court upheld the three-year prison sentence given to Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov of Sunmin Sunbogym Church. Pastor Kholmatov was punished for “singing extremist songs in church and so inciting 'religious hatred’”. After his arrest, he was first held in NSC secret police custody before being transferred to the Investigation Prison in Istaravshan. It is unclear whether he remains there or has been transferred to a prison camp to serve his sentence.

Prisoner Details

Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov, who was detained by police in April, was sentenced in July to three years in prison. The 42-year-old pastor also known as Bakhrom Holmatov, was arrested on April 10 after KNB officers raided the Sonmin Sonbogym [Good News of Grace] Protestant Church, harassing and beating church members in addition to arresting the pastor. During the raid, the officers confiscated items from the church, including the pastor’s computer and the book “More Than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell.

Bakhrom’s arrest was only the latest event in harassment that has been ongoing since February. A church that he pastored in Sughd was raided in early February. Officers of the State Committee for Religious Affairs along with other law enforcement agencies interrupted the church, beat church members, insulted and swore at them. They demanded that the believers renounce their faith.

Afterward, some church members were fired from their jobs, and the secret police pressured church leaders and others so much that the church was closed in March. At that time Pastor Bakhrom moved his wife and three children to Khujand and began leading the church there. But the family was only there before the pastor was arrested in the April 10 raid.

During the interrogations afterward, Christians were informed that "the purpose of conducting inspections is the closure of churches in Tajikistan and the confiscation of their property."

Later, officials claimed that Christian songs found on Pastor Bakhrom’s computer and the “More Than a Carpenter” book are "extremist materials,” and they were holding Pastor Bakhrom on suspicion of extremism. The authorities allege the songs "Praise God, O Unbelieving Country," "Army of Christ" and "Our Battle is Not Against Blood and Flesh" are recognized by religious "experts" as "extremist and calling people to overthrow the government." The "experts" who came to this conclusion are the imams working for the KNB (which was formerly the KGB under the USSR).

In July, a court sentenced Pastor Bakhrom to three years in prison.

As in other countries in the region, Tajik authorities often use accusations of extremism to punish Christians. Local Christians later said the charges were fabricated because authorities could not find anything illegal in the church. People who are close to Pastor Holmatov believe he was actually arrested because of a conflict over a building. The Sonmin Sonbogym church owns a prestigious building that authorities apparently want. Several months before the raids, Pastor Holmatov was called to a meeting where he was required to sign documents transferring the building to someone else. The pastor refused.

Tajik authorities say the Sonmin Sonbogym has no official registration, and therefore their activities are illegal. However, Sonmin Sonbogym was officially registered with the State Committee for Religious Affairs in 1993. And in 2009, when all registered religious communities had to undergo re-registration, the church immediately complied with the requirement and received a new registration on Oct. 23 of the same year.

Officials involved in this case threatened members of Pastor Bakhrom’s family, as well as members of the church telling them to remain silent about the details of the case, the court or the prisoner's condition. Pastor Bakhrom's relatives have dutifully refused to talk about the subject.

Pastor Bakhrom’s family and church members do not know where he is being held.