Kazakhstan Legal Amendments a Potential Threat to Religious Freedom

Kazakh authorities, in an attempt to improve national security have come up with amendments to 11 of the country's laws including the religious law. The members of the Majilis, the lower house of Parliament, approved the drafts of the proposed amendments in the second reading and have now submitted them to the Senate.

The new law drafts state, "On the Activities of Branches and Representative Offices of International or Foreign Non-commercial Organisations in the Republic of Kazakhstan" and "On the Introduction of Amendments and Additions into Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Matters Related to Non-commercial Organisations" if approved, will put restrictions to the activities of foreign and domestic non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

Aleksandr Klyushev from the Association of Religious Organisations of Kazakhstan (AROK) expressed that the "ban on the activity of unregistered religious associations and the draconian amendments to the administrative code significantly limit believers' rights," reported Forum 18 News Service.

According to the new law "leadership and participation in the activity of public and religious associations that have not been registered in accordance with the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as financing their activity" will be punished and violators of the law will be penalised.

Also, missionaries working in Kazakhstan without proper registration will be penalised up to 15 times their monthly salary and will be expelled beyond the borders of the country.

Concerned voices have been heard from many leaders of NGOs. Oleg Katsiev, country director for Internews, an international non-profit group supporting open media worldwide, warned that the government will control all activities of any NGO working in the country.

The letter addressed to the Chairman of the Majilis of the Parliament, and was signed by 8 leaders of NGOs, such as Freedom House, Internews Network or Open Society Institute.

Their statement expressed concerns for the "members of international community of donors in Kazakhstan." In the letter they urged the Majilis of Parliament to dismiss the drafts of the proposed changes in the laws.

As Antonio Stango, country director for Freedom House said for IRIN: "We would waste all our time just dealing with bureaucracy," and added: "I do hope that the Kazakh authorities will understand that this kind of draft law does not help with the development of civil society."