Belarus: Christians Threatened and Fined for Leading Worship Services

July 29, 2008

Government officials in Belarus are prohibiting three Protestant communities from having church services in Grodno region, northwestern Belarus.

According to Forum 18 News,”On August 3, in the small town of Svisloch, a planned open-air baptism has been banned, despite the attempts of Pentecostals to negotiate with the authorities. They just don’t want to allow it.”

This is the latest incident of Christian persecution in Belarus. Forum 18 News added that in the town of Mosty, a Pentecostal pastor was fined nine months’ wages for leading a small unregistered church. Forum 18 News said, “The court verdict notes as evidence of wrongdoing that ‘at meetings they read the gospel, discussed questions of religious faith, sang songs and conducted religious rites.’” the rest