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.

The kafala system in Qatar is a sponsorship-based employment system that governs the relationship between foreign workers and their employers. It creates a dependency relationship between employers and migrant workers, with employers holding considerable power and control over their employees’ lives. One of the most criticized aspects of the system is its restriction on the mobility of foreign workers. Workers need their sponsor’s permission to change jobs or leave the country. This leads to situations of exploitation and abuse, as workers may be reluctant to report mistreatment for fear of losing their legal status and being deported.

Pray for the ban of the kafala system in Qatar. Pray for the Qatari government to take action to improve the living conditions of the migrant workers in the country (The Holy Bible, Exodus 23:9).

Sovereign LORD, deliver the migrant workers from oppression. Let them have access to all their basic needs and rights (The Holy Bible, Psalm 7:2).

Qatar features at 34th in the Open Doors Persecution Index in 2023. Christians do not have the freedom to practice their beliefs openly. Expat or otherwise, there is no distinction. Immigrant workers face deportation should they try to evangelize Qatari nationals. All social statuses of Qatari citizens depend entirely on their religious identity. Only as Muslims do they have rights. If they convert, they will not only lose their social standing, they will face discrimination and isolation. All church activities and gatherings face scrutiny from local authorities. House gatherings and house churches do not get permission in Qatar. A designated space is available for all Christians to gather and worship together. However, this space is inadequate.