Turkmenistan Country Update

This report evaluates religious freedom conditions in Turkmenistan, widely considered one of the world’s most closed-off countries. The report begins with background on the regime of President Sedar Berdimuhamedow and his father and former president, Gurbanguly, who rule through a cult of personality that often impacts the religious sphere. Next, the report lays out the laws restricting religious activity in Turkmenistan and highlights religious freedom violations targeting independent Muslims and minority religious groups. Finally, it analyzes the correlation between corruption and such violations.