ICC NOTE: A report describes the Kazakh government to have misled human rights watchdogs regarding its record on freedom of religion. According to the report the number of those punished under the countries restrictive religious laws was double the account provided tot eh United Nations Human Rights Committee. Those most affected by the religious law restrictions have been Muslims, Protestant Christians, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Kazakhstan is a former Soviet satellite state in Central Asia which has seen the rise of Islamic activity much like other Central Asian countries. Yet they have attempted to maintain the traditional Soviet style approach of a secular government which includes to a large extent the population as a whole. Currently the nation recognizes 17 religions, down from 50 in 2012 when the law took affect. 

7/18/2016 Kazakhstan (Christian Today) – Kazakhstan has misled the human rights watchdogs about its record on freedom of religion, according to a report today.

Four days after the UN Human Rights Committee examined the country, Kazakhstan fined three more people for exercising their freedom, according to Felix Corley of Forum 18.

Delegates from Kazakhstan to the committee claimed last month just eight people had been punished this year for violating the country’s strict laws on religion, but the true number is believed to be more than twice that at about 20.

Kazhakstan introduced strict restrictions on practising non-recognised faiths and in 2012 cut the number of recognised faiths from nearly 50 to just 17.

Those most affected are Muslims, Protestant Christians and Jehovah’s Witnesses who can be punished for offering religious literature the state has not approved in places the state has not permitted, talking about their beliefs with other people without state permission, or meeting for worship without state permission.

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