Kazakstan's Controversial Religion Law

A new law on religion has prompted heated debate in Kazakstan. Critics say it is a major setback for freedom of confession, while others argue that the numerous faith groups operating in the country need some form of regulation.

The legislation, which came into force on October 25, requires all religious organisations to apply for official registration, even if they had it previously, and to submit any literature they use for review by the government. The most controversial provision bans the performance of religious rites in state institutions including the military, prisons, schools and universities, and government offices. It also says that communal religious activities can take place in officially-recognised places of worship, meaning that informal prayer-houses and the like will have to close.

Officials insist the law is not about putting pressure on observant Muslims, Christians and others. According to the head of the state Agency for Religious Affairs, Kairat Lama Sharif, the legislation is designed to preserve the secular nature of the state and to regulate the activities of some 4,500 faith organisations operating in Kazakstan.

The head of the Ult Tagdyry (Fate of the Nation) movement, Dos Koshim, opposes the idea of restricting prayers to designated places of worship, especially since not everyone has easy access to a mosque or church.

The head of the Society for Krishna Consciousness in Almaty, Galina Galaus, expressed similar concerns, saying the law would make life hard for her faith group. Because the law distinguishes between groups that are registered nationally and those with only local recognition, Krishna movement followers in Almaty city who attend the regional temple could be deemed missionaries – moving from one group to another – and this will require additional permits.

Religious affairs expert Artur Artemyev said that while the authorities want to curb religious extremism,, the bureaucratic obstacles thrown up by the law are likely to drive more people to practice their faith covertly.

"I think that this law will work counter to the idea that prompted it," he said.

Maksat Ilias of the Coalition for Human Rights and Freedoms says his organisation has received a lot of phone calls from various parts of Kazakstan alleging police harassment of Muslim men with beards and women wearing Islamic dress or hijab. Such people are often detained and have their fingerprints taken. Schoolgirls are sometimes prevented from attending classes if they refuse to remove their headscarves.

While none of this is new, things have got worse since the law was passed, he said. 

This audio programme, in Kazak, went out on Radio Azattyk, the Kazak service of RFE/RL, as part of IWPR project work funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.