Injil Released in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — The Bible Society in Uzbekistan (BSU) received permission recently to clear a shipment of 24,960 New Testaments through customs. The Scriptures, known as the ‘Injil’, had been held by customs in Tashkent since January this year, pending the agreement of the Uzbek Government. News just received from the BSU confirms that the books were collected and unloaded at the Bible Society on September 26, following an eight-month wait.

The Bible Society’s Scriptures now released in Uzbekistan

The Uzbek authorities had raised concerns that distribution of the Injil, which is in the Uzbek language, constituted missionary activity, which is illegal in Uzbekistan. But following extensive and constructive discussions with the government bodies concerned, the BSU was informed by the Committee for Religious Affairs of the Council of Ministers on September 20 that the books would be released.

Educational resource

Not only would the churches be allowed to distribute the Injil to all those who wanted a copy, but the Bible Society has also been asked to place copies of the Injil in all state-run libraries throughout the country as an educational resource. The Bible Society has undertaken not to sell the Injil in bookshops.

In addition, the authorities have signalled that the hefty storage charges of almost US $10,000 due to the national railways where the container was impounded, had been waived.

The case has caused considerable concern, and enquiries have been made to Uzbek authorities by many Bible Societies and parliamentary figures from all over the world.

The Rev Dr John D Erickson, General Secretary of the United Bible Societies (UBS) said: "The UBS joins with the Bible Society in Uzbekistan in thanking the Uzbek Government; in particular we note the help of the Committee for Religious Affairs, without whose assistance the import permission would not have been granted. The UBS is also grateful to all national Bible Societies and other organisations who made representations on behalf of the BSU."

Dr Erickson also expressed his thanks and admiration for the Executive Director of the BSU, Sergei Ivanovich Mitin, who, with the support of the BSU board, made representations to the authorities over this long period for the release of the Scriptures.

‘Glory to God!’

Mr Mitin commented: "Glory to God! We will now have normal relations with the Government, and will be able to attend to our activities without any further restrictions."

Dr Erickson added: "I believe that where authorities see that the Bible Society is an open and honest organisation, not involved in any clandestine or illegal activity, offering a service to the churches and the Christians in their land, they are happy to allow the distribution of Scriptures. Every person should have the right to read the Bible in their own language, regardless of their culture or faith."

This page was last updated on Monday, 27th October 1997.