Life is getting tougher for Christians in many of the Muslim areas of the former Soviet Union. Laws similar to those in Russia forcing churches to register are being used to harass and intimidate believers. Evangelical Christians - especially Baptists - are in the firing line. Christians are being jailed and their possessions seized in many of the former Soviet Republics.

In Uzbekistan, a year after all unregistered religious activity was made illegal, harsh new penalties are being imposed against Christians whose churches fail to receive state sanction. Believers can now be fined 50 times the minimum monthly wage or sent to prison for up to three years for associating with an illegal religious group.

The authorities are also using another tactic commonly employed against political dissidents to take Christians out of circulation. It is claimed they are planting drugs on believers to provide an excuse for imprisoning them. Most at risk are former Muslims who have converted to Christianity. Drugs were found on four evangelical Christians - all converts from Islam - who were sentenced for up to 15 years on what are believed to be trumped-up charges.

They include Rashid Turibayev, pastor of the Full Gospel Church in Nukus. His trial was postponed twice, first after defence lawyers were threatened and failed to turn up, and then when the judge refused to continue, apparently fearing the consequences of such a sensitive case. Before his trial Pastor Turibayev preached to the other prisoners in detention and is said to have made 95 converts in Nukus prison. When the authorities found out they threw him into solitary confinement.

The trial came less than a week after the arrest of another evangelical Christian in the same city. Lt. Sergei Danileiko was held after allegedly giving out Christian tracts to other soldiers during a stopover at the airport. His plane was already back in the air when it was ordered to return to the runway. Back on the ground, a police search discovered 10 tracts in his possession and he was arrested.

The autonomous Karakalpakstan republic of Uzbekistan has maintained a tough stance against the steady growth of Christianity since the central Asian state became independent in 1991. Even meeting in private to study the Bible, it seems, can make you an enemy of the state.

Evangelical Christian Sergei Barzgin was jailed for two years after four militia officers burst in on a private discussion about the Bible. The soldiers said their meeting was illegal and confiscated notes, literature and audio tapes. After shouting abuse at everyone present, the officers threw them out of the apartment and put them on a bus. Sergei, his wife and one other were threatened with physical violence. Mr Barzgin was eventually sentenced for illegal missionary activity.

Yet religious freedom is guaranteed under Article 31 of the Uzbekistan constitution. And the country has signed up to international covenants guaranteeing religious freedom.

In Georgia, police have been accused of brutality and breaking up a series of evangelical rallies held in the capital Tbilisi. The congregation of Grace Evangelical Church has been placed under surveillance. Their pastor, Zaali Tkeshelashvili told Keston News Service: The police observe where we meet and our parishioners. We fear they could do anything to us at any moment. Meanwhile worship services continue in a rented cinema.

In Turkmenistan Christians are finding life just as tough. The religious laws there have also been tightened up, giving official recognition to Orthodox Christians and Sunni Muslims only. Registration has been withheld from every Protestant church in the country. The authorities mounted a three month operation against local Christians, detaining 100 people who were interrogated about their contacts with foreign believers. Two Protestant churches were ordered to pay substantial fines for holding unregistered religious meetings, and the home of Baptist Pastor Vladimir Chernov was raided by officers of the national security committee. They searched his house in Ashgabat without a warrant, breaking through one door into a room where a woman was resting with her child. They turned out cupboards, threw belongings into the yard and confiscated Christian literature and passports. Personal letters and family photographs were seized as well as a slide projector and amplifier. The official report on the incident made no mention of the electrical equipment which has disappeared, and the authorities continue to withhold identity papers.

The Council of Churches of Evangelical Christians and Baptists described the incident as the latest instance of persecution of Christian Baptists to have taken place in Turkmenistan. They add: We ask you to pray and petition about the return of the illegally confiscated possessions as well as the freedom to preach the gospel in our country.

The police observe where we meet and our parishioners. We fear they could do anything to us at any moment.

(Acknowledgements Compass Direct & Keston Institute)