Kazakhstan: Parliament Passes New Law Seriously Restricting Religious Freedom

[joanne_h]

Posted: Wednesday, 3 December 2008, 11:11 (EST)Kazakhstan’s parliament has passed a harsh new law which seriously restricts freedom of religion or belief. The legislation will now be sent to President Nursultan Nazarbaev for his approval. According to Forum 18 News Service, Kazakhstan’s parliament completed its consideration of the new law on 26 November 2008, despite an agreement reached on 25 November 2008 for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to conduct a legislative review of the latest text of controversial new amendments.The "Law on Amendments and Additions to Several Legislative Acts on Questions of Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations," amends numerous articles of the current Religion Law, the Code of Administrative Offences and several other laws. It has been amended on several occasions but the revision process has been criticised for its secrecy and specifically for a lack of consultation with civil society. Government officials refused to make the revised text public prior to 26 November, but it appears that the latest changes include a requirement for permission from both parents for children to attend any religious event. It also increases the punishment for individuals found guilty of holding religious services, conducting charitable work, importing, publishing or distributing religious literature, or building or opening places of worship in violation of "demands established in law". With large fines anticipated and the fear that many religious groups will be unable to re-register, there are widespread fears about the impact on religious activity. Even the work of faith based charities may now be under threat.Concerns over the draft law were expressed by the EU in a statement at the OSCE Permanent Council on 23 October 2008, which called on the Senate to reconsider the draft legislation to ensure its consistency with OSCE commitments, specifically those made at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Madrid last year when it was also decided that Kazakhstan would hold the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010. According to Forum 18 New Service, the President now has a month from receipt of the law to sign it, reject it or send it to the Constitutional Council.Tina Lambert, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said: “We are very concerned that the new legislation, if adopted, will represent a significant step backwards for Kazakhstan, removing fundamental rights to freedom of religion as upheld by international standards. We urge President Nazarbaev to reconsider and to send this legislation back for revision, under the guidance of the OSCE. It is inconceivable that Kazakhstan could take on the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010 without addressing this situation and ensuring that religious freedom is protected”. Source: CSW