Tags

Kazakhstan

• Clampdown on Christianity

  

  Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

• Clampdown on Christianity

  

  Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

• Clampdown on Christianity

  

  Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

• Clampdown on Christianity

  

  Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

• Pastor Faces Investigation After Church Raid
  

  Christians were gathered for worship at the New Life Church in Kyzylorda when "anti-extremism" police burst into their meeting on February 25th. According to authorities, they had received a report that a child was allegedly present in the service, and thus they were obligated to investigate.

• Proposed Legislation Poses New Restrictions
  
  Kazakhstan's Parliament Buildings
  Photo: Wikimedia Commons

  Kazakhstan is on the verge of passing legislation which proposes changes to the 2011 Religion Law, Administrative Code, and many other laws. The Religious Affairs Committee refused to explain why the Amending Law does not remove any restrictions from the existing law, even though they violate Kazakhstan's international human rights obligations. There was also no explanation regarding the addition of further restrictions.

• Release of Christian Convert
  
  Photo: VOM USA

  On October 2nd, Yklas Kabduakasov, a Christian convert from Islam, was released from prison after spending more than two years in detention for allegedly "inciting religious hatred." Following his arrest on August 14th, 2015, Yklas spent time in pre-trial detention, under house arrest and, finally, forceful service at a labour camp.

  During his trying two-year ordeal, Yklas was greatly blessed by the numerous letters he received from those who expressed concern and prayer support for him. (For further information on how VOM's letter-writing ministry is encouraging imprisoned believers like Yklas, please review this previous report.)

• Churches Banned for Worshipping Freely

  

  During the summer months of 2017, courts have banned various religious communities from conducting any activities -- including meeting for worship -- for three months. On August 18th, a court fined and banned New Life Protestant Church in Oskemen because its church members sang religious songs at a summer camp. According to Eldar Meirbayev of the Regional Religious Affairs Department, the church should have obtained written permission but had not; therefore, a record of an offence was drawn up. The ban has not yet come into force as the church is appealing to the East Kazakhstan Regional Court.

• Effectiveness of Letter-Writing Ministry

  
  Yklas Kabduakasov (left) and Yuri Pak
  Photos: VOM USA

  Following his release from a Kazakh prison on June 17th, Yuri Pak's family shared how the many letters that were sent to him and fellow prisoner of faith, Yklas Kabduakasov changed the quality of their lives behind bars. VOM supporters sent 1,225 letters to Yuri, and have so far sent 2,790 letters to Yklas (who remains in prison) by accessing the ministry's Prisoner Alert website.

• High School Official Released from Prison

  
  Yuri Pak
  Photo: VOM USA

  Yuri Pak was released from prison on June 17th. Yuri, a teacher, dean of a high school and local church leader was sentenced to two years in prison, after being convicted of making a false emergency services call. The accusations began in April 2015, when someone used Yuri's mobile phone to make a prank phone call to Kazakhstan's emergency services. (A previous report may be reviewed here.)

  Authorities were quick to charge Yuri with making a bomb threat during that call and arrested him. Yet, during trial, the "evidence" against him was a two-minute-long recording of a man who was obviously drunk and using rough prison jargon. Expert witnesses testified that the caller's voice did not match Yuri's. Additionally, the caller makes reference to having spent ten years in prison and being angry at police. Yuri had not been in prison.