Parnership for Peace

Since independence in 1991, Tajikistan has had three changes of government. The country has suffered from ongoing civil conflict with political, regional and clan-based aggression. Peace was brokered in 1997 and since then things have been steadily improving. Now Dushanbe (the capital) is even more active than Tashkent, happily, with new stores, restauraunts, and factories opening right and left. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace. Still, 60% of the population continue to live in abject poverty.

Shaken, Not Stirred

The Tajiks are descendants from the Persians and are closely linked with the neighbouring Uzbeks. Tajikistan is a landlocked, mountainous country with more than half of the land area above 3,000 metres with frequent strong earthquakes. The country is a landlocked, mountainous region dominated The Trans-Alay mountain Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast are the dominant mountains with the highest point being Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak) - the tallest mountain in the former USSR.

Daily life in Tajikistan

Tajikistan has the lowest per capita GDP among the 15 former Soviet republics. Only 5% to 6% of the land area is arable. Cotton is the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The civil war) severely damaged the already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, weak governance, widespread unemployment, and the external debt burden. A debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russia in December 2002, including an interest rate of 4%, a 3-year grace period, and a US $49.8 million credit to the Central Bank of Tajikistan.

Most Tajiks live in small villages known as "qishlaqs" surrounded by orchards and vineyards of apples, apricots, melons and mulberries. Qishlaqs consist of 200 to 700 one-family mud or stone houses built along the banks of a river or canal. The population is broken down into: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%.

The Drug Routes

Tajikistan is a major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; Tajikistan seizes roughly 80 percent of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands third world-wide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium).

Most Tajiks are Sunni Muslims (85%) with small Shi'ite Muslim communities in the more remote regions (5%). Although there are a few orthodox churches in the main cities there is only a handful of Christians in the country. There are several Christian aid agencies involved in medical work.

Flag of Tajikistan

Map of Tajikistan

Pray for the Muslims in Tajikistan:

* Pray for the children of Tajikistan to hear the message of Good News.

* Pray for the President and his family. Pray that they would have an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. Pray also for other leaders of Tajikistan.

* Pray open doors in the land for Christian to have opportunities to minister to the Tajiks.

* Pray for the people of Tajikistan to know God's love, comfort, peace and provision in the face of hash conditions.

Background on Tajikistan (World Factbook)

The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and it is now in the process of strengthening its democracy and transitioning to a free market economy after its civil war. There have been no major security incidents in recent years, although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere.

Attention by the international community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.

Economy of Tajikistan

Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. Because of a lack of employment opportunities in Tajikistan, as many as a million Tajik citizens work abroad, almost all of them in Russia, supporting families in Tajikistan through remittances. Less than 7% of the land area is arable. Cotton is the most important crop, and its production is closely monitored, and in many cases controlled, by the government.

About Tajikistan

Population: 7,627,200 (July 2011 est.) World rank #95

Life Expectancy at Birth: 66.03 years. World rank #165

Ethnic groups: Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6% (2000 census)

Religions: Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)

Languages: Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business

Literacy: 99.5% -- Male: 99.7%, Female: 99.2%

School life expectancy: 11 years

Sights and Sounds of Tajikistan: Video

The Youth of Tajikistan from Weltenwanderer on Vimeo.

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What does the future have in store?

Zebo is 18 years old and wants to enter university. She dreams of an easier life for her family in Tajikistan. She desires to be free of the worries of putting food on the table and borrowing and bribing to get the education she desires. Like many other young people, she believes that if she can just learn English and find a good job with a foreign organisation, she and her family will be well provided for.

She has little hope in her country, unlike the past confidence in the government under the Soviet system. Zebo even questions her family’s strong Islamic beliefs. She knows that it will be difficult to obtain what she desires out of life. Her parents have recently been pressuring her to marry rather than pursue an education and a career. Life seems like a dead end street. She asks herself, 'Where can I find hope?'

Hopelessness in Tajikistan

Zebo represents thousands of young people who walk in hopelessness over their future life in their home country of Tajikistan. Landlocked between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China, this country of seven million people is the poorest former Soviet republic. Over 80 per cent of the population lives under the poverty line and the estimated average annual income is around 250 Euros per person. Women and children make up the majority of the population since many men have gone to Russia for work. Some of them never return nor do they send the promised financial support home.

Growth of Islam in Tajikistan

In recent years, Islam has become a stronger influence on the people as some have studied in more conservative Muslim countries and brought back their strict teachings. Ninety per cent of the people in Tajikistan are Muslims and only about one tenth of a percent are believers in the Messiah. While many are disillusioned by Islam, there are at the same time those who are genuinely seeking God.

"To The Ends Of The Earth"

The small city of Khorugh (possibly 20,000 inhabitants) and the towns and villages of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province of Tajikistan are some of the most isolated places on earth. Located in the Pamir Mountains, the province makes up 45 per cent of the land area of the country but only three per cent of the population (about 200,000 people).

Jesus spoke of the Gospel being proclaimed to the “ends of the earth.” Khorugh certainly qualifies for this title.

Flag of Tajikistan

Map of Tajikistan

Prayer Starters:

• As young people think about their future, may they find their God-given purpose in Jesus, the Messiah. Pray for more workers in the harvest among the young people.
• The absence of fathers who work in Russia and elsewhere is making its impact on the foundations of Tajik society (Proverbs 1:8, 3:12, 4:1, Ephesians 6:4, Psalm 68:5, 27:10).
• Pray for strong disciples to be made and that they in turn might be prepared to lead others into the family of faith. Many are recent believers (1 John 2:12-14, Titus 2:1-14).

Listen to the Podcast - DAY 22 - The Youth of Tajikistan

Video: Life in Tajikistan (2:42)

Tajikistan (Radio Free Tajikistan) from ODOE Community Uploads on Vimeo.

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The soaring Pamir mountains dominate the landscape of greater Badashan / Badakshan, which spills over North Eastern Afghanistan, Eastern Tajikistan and Northern Pakistan. The peoples who live in these isolated mountain communities generally feel distinct from the majority of the populations in their nations. Badakshanis speak Eastern Persian mountain languages. They are often fairer skinned than others in their countries, with Caucasian features. However, the most distinctive aspect of Badakshani identity is their religion.

Badakshan is the one part of the world where the Muslim Ismaili sect makes up the majority of the population. The Agha Khan, their spiritual leader, has become like a god to them. To quote a Badakshani: “The Agha Khan is like a living Koran for us. He shows us the way and how to live. Our religion is not stuck in history. We have a modern Imam to show us how to live in the 21st Century. We see the light of Mohammed on him.” Most other Muslims consider the Ismailis to be heretics.

There are few believers in Badakshan and no known believing communities. However, many Badakshanis are coming to faith elsewhere. There are believers in Dushanbe - the capital of Tajikistan - and in Moscow, where many Tajik Badakshanis become migrant labourers. Pray for believers living in other places, that they might wisely proclaim Jesus in their communities.

Flag of Pakistan

Map of Pakistan

Prayer Starters:

• Meditate on Jeremiah 16:19-21 and use it in prayer.
• Pray for those who worship the Agha Khan as a god, and that they may come to a realisation that he is just a man.
• Spiritual blindness and the spirit of deception seem to be two major strongholds in Badakshan. Pray for these barriers to the Gospel to be removed.

Video: Sights and Sounds of Badakhshan

Special Section: Pray for the Uyghur Peoples of China

The following information came from Western China as we were preparing the “30 Days” for 2009. We have asked for prayer for the Uyghurs in the past. It seems urgent to pray now. Some Uyghurs live within 400 kilometers of Badakshan.

In Northwest China there are only 100-200 believers among the Uyghur people (pronounced ‘ooy-goor’) who number about 11 million in population. The Uyghurs are largely preoccupied with a) making a living and b) the strife between their Muslim / Uyghur cultural heritage and the controlling Chinese Communist system. This area was a significant point on the Silk Road from Europe and the Middle East to China and now it seems to be one of the last regions to be reached by the Body of Christ. In the past fifteen years, thousands of Muslims all along the Silk Road in Central Asia have become believers in Jesus (along with millions of Han Chinese), however, there is still no resilient Uyghur church. There are many stories of unfair treatment, as well as house fellowships being broken up as soon as they get started. Three key men are now in jail; the little community of believers is floundering. Fear keeps them from moving beyond private belief to a sharing, deep life in Christ.
May God guide you to pray for the Uyghurs as only he can.

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Tonight, the respected businessman Sharif is going to visit Nazira's family. On the telephone he said he wants to talk with her father about a new car, but Nazira knows the real reason for his visit. Nazira is already 24 years old and single. For quite some time her family has been looking around for a potential husband for her. However, that is not so easy. Farud, for example, who wanted to marry her three months ago, is an alcoholic, like many people in Tajikistan.

The Agreement

Evening came and Sharif visited Nazira's family. Since the civil war of the 1990's, this Central Asian country is slowly recuperating and business is steadily growing. Sharif is one who is doing well economically. His house has running water with regular electricity and he drives a German car. In Tajikistan the estimated average annual income is around 250 Euros per person, but Sharif is one of the exceptions. He already had two wives and Nazira will become his third. It seems obvious that Sharif is a good candidate. Quickly the parents agree and arrangements are made. The wedding will take place in the coming two weeks. Everyone is happy, however Nazira realises that some of her cherished dreams will not come true.

It is estimated that the number of Tajikistan workers in Russia number about one million. Since there are only seven million people in Tajikistan, this means that a large percentage of the male population is away from home. Women and children are in the majority. In the villages the women live amid tensions between old traditions, atheism and a new wave of radical Islam.

Few Believers

Tajikistan believers were few and far between even when there was freedom of religion. Now worries about radical Islam are being countered with new laws to restrict the rights of small religious groups. These laws also affect Christians.

Flag of Tajikistan

Map of Tajikistan

Prayer Starters

* Pray for increasingly healthy and Biblically oriented families among the followers of Jesus in this nation.

* Pray for the many Tajik men in surrounding countries to be reached with the Good News.

* Pray that Tajikistan believers can develop more and more their own style of worship in their own language.

* Pray in small groups for women like Nazira, remembering many Muslim women receive dreams from Jesus.

Did you know:

LIMITED NUMBER OF WIVES
Mohammed limited the number of wives in Islamic marriage to four spouses. Previously some men had been marrying many more women than they could support financially. According to Muslim scholars women were better treated in Arabia following the rise of Islam than previously. Islam recognizes that men are especially weak in the sexual realm. The possibility of having four wives is seen as a limit on man’s sexual urges and thus gives stability to society.

Video: Sights and Sounds from Tajikistan

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