Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan’s extremely repressive government routinely punishes anyone who criticizes it, whether inside the country or abroad. According to UN data, only 5% of the country’s population uses the internet because it’s costly and not widely available. The state controls all print and electronic media. All the government’s opposition sites are blocked. So, people need access to independent news sources. Social media and messaging apps are also blocked, and the government closely watches what information people can access.

O’ LORD, hear the cry of the oppressed civilians in Turkmenistan and deliver them from the hands of the oppressors in Jesus’s Mighty Name (The Holy Bible, Exodus 3:9).

Pray for the civilians to experience the freedom of information, expression, and media in Turkmenistan (The Holy Bible, Job 36:6).

Turkmenistan is an arid Central Asian country. The regime is a dictatorial authoritarian government. The country is mineral-rich with Russian and Chinese trading partners. Of late, Italy and Turkey became their biggest defense suppliers. Despite the prosperous trading, the people faced food shortages. All critics of the government face different levels of intimidation. Bloggers, Podcasters, Independent Online Press, and Social Workers are vulnerable to government-sponsored disappearances. Freedom of religion is non-existent except on paper. Christians face severe persecution in Turkmenistan. Only two denominations are legal, and even their activities face excessive scrutiny.