Imprisoned pastor's family prays for amnesty release before Christmas

"He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free." Psalm 146:7

Friends and family of imprisoned Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev are praying and hoping for his release on 12 December, when the government of Turkmenistan will issue an amnesty to free prisoners.

Turkmenistan has the custom of offering amnesty to large numbers of prisoners on certain days of the year, to help release pressure on the overcrowded prisons.

Following years of harassment for his religious activities, Pastor Ilmurad was arrested on 27 August 2010 on unsubstantiated charges of fraud, and sentenced to four years in prison. Authorities are pressurising him to admit to his guilt before allowing him amnesty. Ilmurad refuses to do so.

A human rights defender in Ashgabat described Pastor Ilmurad's conviction as 'illegal' and said she hopes that he will be freed by pressure from the international community. She added how impressed she is that all the members of Svet Miru (Light to the World) church have stood by their pastor during the trial, with nearly all attending the court hearing.

Ilmurad was very pleased to hear that Christians around the world are praying for him. He says he feels the prayers and that 'without them he could not even survive there'. His wife, Maya, has been under secret police surveillance since his arrest. She has also lost the job that she had held for 27 years, as a result of having to take unpaid leave to visit Ilmurad in the Seydi labour camp, an eight-hour journey away.

You can send letters of encouragement to Ilmurad and to Maya at www.opendoorsuk.org/write

Source: Open Doors

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST - NIGERIA
Over 150 people have been killed and 10 churches demolished in a carefully planned attack on the Christian community in Damaturu, northern Nigeria. More than 200 heavily armed Boko Haram members invaded the community of New Jerusalem after Friday prayers on 4 November, detonating bombs in churches and shooting any believer in sight.
Read a full report

Please pray:

  1. That Pastor Ilmurad will be re-united with his family before Christmas
  2. That his witness to Christ in the labour camp will bear much fruit and that he will be given wisdom and good health
  3. For comfort for Christians caught up in the attacks in Damaturu, and for protection for Open Doors co-workers coming alongside them to bring aid and encouragement.

With many thanks for your prayers.