Kazakstan Formally Bans Islamic State
| Publisher | Institute for War and Peace Reporting |
| Author | Botagoz Seidakhmetova |
| Publication Date | 17 November 2015 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RCA Issue 776 |
| Cite as | Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Kazakstan Formally Bans Islamic State, 17 November 2015, RCA Issue 776, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/564c3c2a4.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In mid-October, Kazakstan's government added Islamic State to the list of designated terrorist organisations.
The move reflects official concerns that some 400 nationals of the Central Asian state have gone to Syria and Iraq, both combatants and dependents. Some experts believe the true figure could be closer to 2,000.
The authorities are trying to exclude Islamic State propaganda material from websites based in Kazakstan, fearing that it serves as a recruiting call for the group. Site owners have, for example, been told to remove footage of alleged child soldiers from Kazakstan that appeared on the net.
A former officer with Kazakstan's State Security Committee, believes the service is finding it hard to keep pace with Islamic State's effective recruitment campaign.
Botagoz Seidakhmetova is IWPR's Kazakstan radio editor.
