Tohar Haydarov, 33, was released on parole on 8 November after serving six years and ten months of his prison term, and returned to his home in Gulistan, eastern Uzbekistan.
Haydarov was found guilty in March 2010 of drugs charges, which local Baptists insist were fabricated. Release International said his arrest followed a request by some of his relatives that local police help them to force Haydarov to return to Islam.
The day after his trial in 2010, Haydarov's father was found dead and, according to the official findings, died as a result of accidental electrocution, the EA Foundation reported. A spokesman for the Council of Baptist Churches said that Haydarov’s release did not signal a change in government policy on Protestants.
Continue to pray
A spokesperson for the religious freedom charity Open Doors said that Haydarov’s release was surprising because he had been denied amnesty when many other prisoners were granted it in May. ‘We are very grateful Tohar has been granted parole: we have prayed for him for years and we need to continue our prayers. After six years in such difficult circumstances, he needs to be restored and to reestablish his relationship with his loved ones.
