DANGEROUS GAPS IN KAZAKHSTAN’S RELIGION LAWS

During the Soviet era, the government
"protected" the people from the influence of religious organizations and their
propaganda. But with the proclamation of independence and sovereignty, religion in
Kazakhstan and the belief in God are no longer considered a crime against society and the
government. Religion is becoming an essential part of the spiritual culture of Kazakhstan
that is a multi-confessional state. There are 373 Muslim and 14 Russian Orthodox
congregations. Additionally, there are 39 Protestant, Catholic and other religious
communities legally registered and operating in the republic. The influential role of
religion in Kazakhstani civil society and politics is great. In connection with increased
religious activity in the republic, the government is taking measures to prevent religious
extremism, maintain stability by peaceful dialogue, without following confrontational
means. Kazakhstan has legislated that October 18 is Spiritual Consensus and Peace Day.

In the Kazakhstan legal system, there are many gaps in religious legislation and many
opportunities for illegal expansion of different religious teachings that could undermine
stability and peace. One trial of a religious nature took place in Southern Kazakhstan in
the end of 1998 and lasted almost year and a half. Two Arabic teachers, one from Egypt and
one from Jordan, were accused of fomenting religious hostility and propaganda about the
superiority of Muslims. They also distributed literature calling for the violent overthrow
of the government. They were also accused of applying violence and force while working
with their students. Both men were sent to Kazakhstan by a charitable organization abroad.
Their courses of Arabic language instruction were approved by the Kazakhstan Ministry of
Education, but it became clear that teaching the Arabic language was not the only purpose
of their visit.

Their trial lasted from June 1998 until May 2000. During the trial, students and their
parents recanted their original accusations against the teachers. But the original
accusation of fomenting national and religious hostility among the peoples of Kazakhstan
was supported by a June 8, 1998 videotape in which one man spoke Arabic and the other
translated into Russian. He said, " Before Muslims had their own state, they had
Caliphs heading the government. But right now Muslims do not have their own state, they do
not have a Caliph who would unite them in one state". He also added, "Jews are
the worst enemies of Allah. Allah cursed them."

The court pronounced its verdict at the end of the case. But after citing an amnesty
ruling and upholding the goals of the Year 2000’s "year of unity and peace among
generations," the accused were expelled from the country. The government plaintiff,
who had worked in public persecution for 26 years, said he had never faced a trial like
this. It was obvious from the case that the judicial investigators were very inexperienced
in religious law. This case provided new knowledge and experience. Perhaps one of the
Kazakhstan’s newspapers said it best: "Missionaries come and go, but they do not
always bear good promises and charity."

Maria Utyaganova, Student, American University in Kyrgyzstan,
International Relations.