Central Asia

In the far northwestern corner of Uzbekistan lies Karakalpakstan, a remote autonomous region bordering Kazakhstan and the shrinking Aral Sea. This vast, desolate land is home to one of the most obscure and unreached Muslim people groups in the world—the Turkmen of Karakalpakstan. Though ethnically related to the Turkmen of Turkmenistan, they are separated by borders and political realities. Predominantly Muslim, their beliefs often blend with older shamanistic traditions. The environmental collapse of the Aral Sea has devastated livelihoods such as fishing, farming, and herding, leaving many in deep poverty.

Karakalpakstan also exists in a tense relationship with the central government. In 2022, violent protests erupted in the capital, Nukus, after proposals to remove the region’s constitutional right to secede. A harsh crackdown left dozens dead and hundreds arrested, deepening fear and
disillusionment among the population. Today, many people carry the weight of trauma while quietly searching for hope in an environment where dissent and religious expression are tightly controlled.

Spiritually, the Turkmen of Karakalpakstan remain almost entirely unreached. Among roughly 200,000 people, there are likely fewer than 200 believers. There are no known Turkmen churches, no Scripture in their local dialect, and virtually no sustained gospel witness. Evangelism is illegal, unregistered religious activity is criminalized, and converts from Islam face pressure from both authorities and families. Yet even in this barren land—both physically and spiritually—there is hope that God is preparing hearts for the message of Christ.