Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the
flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered
in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the
flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2
Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev
In the latest move against
Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev of Astana Kazakhstan, officials have arrested the
Presbyterian pastor on terrorism charges. Officials have a long-running
campaign against the 66-year-old pastor stemming from his work as leader of
Grace Church, a registered protestant church. He spent time in prison for
“intentional inflicting of serious harm to health,” accused of serving
hallucinogens during church services, and just this week, was arrested again.
In the past, officials have said the church has been involved in
money-laundering, fraud, espionage and distributing extremist texts.
On Oct. 8, 2013, just minutes after Kashkumbaev was freed
to be transferred to house arrest, three police re-arrested the pastor. His
family said the new charges were related to being a terrorist and called the
charges “rubbish”. The police investigator also stripped Kashkumbaev of his
lawyer.
Kashkumbaev was expected to be released to house arrest
Oct. 8, 2013 after his pre-trial detention related to a criminal investigation
into the matter of inflicting harm to the health of a church member was
extended to Nov. 17. If convicted, the pastor of Grace Church could face a
three- to seven-year prison sentence. He has already endured five months of imprisonment
— including one full month spent in a psychiatric hospital while authorities
scrutinized his mental faculties.
Earlier, on May 17, 2013, Pastor Kashkumbaev was arrested
for possibly harming the health of one of his parishioners. The charges stemmed
from allegations made in July 2011 by the mother of 34-year-old Lyazzat
Almenova. Her mother asserted that prolonged influences from the church
undermined her daughter’s mental state and resulted in schizophrenia. However,
Almenova herself says she was erroneously diagnosed as having paranoid
schizophrenia after a forced mental examination. She has spoken up publically
for Pastor Kashkumbaev and stated that the charges of harming her health are
unfounded.
Additionally, claims were made that a “hallucinogenic
drink” was used in church services and could have caused harm to Almenova or
other church members. Pastor Kashkumbaev has explained that the only drink
served in the church is a red-colored tea used for communion.
On Oct. 3, 2012, the church was raided and officials
seized valuables such as gold items, computers, DVDs and books that were
declared to be “extremist literature.” At the request of officials, church
members voluntarily underwent blood tests to demonstrate that they were not
under the influence of any hallucinogens. The results of the tests were not
made known to the church members.
After his arrest in May 2013, a court mandated that Pastor
Kashkumbaev undergo a psychiatric assessment on Aug. 9. He was then ordered to
stay at the psychiatric hospital until Sept. 17. During his time in the
hospital, there were grave concerns that the pastor would be subjected to
psychotropic drugs and ruled mentally incompetent.
While being held in the psychiatric facility, the pastor,
who converted from Islam to Christianity in 1995, was repeatedly questioned
about why he followed Jesus rather than Allah. Nearly a month went by before
his transfer back to the Investigative Prison.
Now Kashkumbaev will face investigations related to both
charges. In prison, he won’t be able to see his family or receive treatment for
various health issues.
Sources: Voices of the Martyrs
Sources, Forum 18 News Service
Satan is the father of
lies. Pray today for this pastor and his
congregation as they face this persecution.
Find a list of other Christian organizations united to help
in these ways and more at www.persecutedchurch.org
