Kazakhstan Limits Worship Possibilities
Devoted Christians face a difficult Christmas season in Kazakhstan after legislators approved one of Europe’s harshest religious laws limiting worship or other faith-based events.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan: Christian convert sentenced
A Kazakh court in Astana has increased the severity of the sentence given a Christian convert from Islam.
Kazakhstan: Children’s Christian Camp Raided
Kazakh authorities recently raided a church-run children’s camp after claiming the children were being taught religion illegally and without their parents’ permission.
Christian-run Rehab Fined, Shut for 3 Months
A drug and alcohol rehabilitation center run by Christians in the village of Sychevka in north-eastern Kazakhstan has been fined and closed down for three months after a court order last month, according to Barnabas Aid.
Two Christians Fined by Kazakhan courts
In separate incidents, two Kazakh Christians have been issued large fines for practicing their religion without the state’s permission, according to Barnabas Aid.
Kazakhstan: Two imprisoned for Christian Literature
Two men were sentenced last month after Kazakhstani authorities confiscated the Christian books they were handing out near a market in Shchuchinsk, according to Barnabas Aid.
Kazakhstan: Christian Jailed For Not Paying Fine After Raid
A Christian father of three has been jailed in Kazakhstan for refusing to pay a fine for leading a worship service in his own home, according to Barnabas Aid.
Imprisoned Kazakh Pastor Released
Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbayev was released yesterday on three years’ probation following a bizarre trial and nine months of imprisonment, according to International Christian Concern.
Charges Dropped, but Pastor Remains in Prison
Although charges of “propagating extremism” leveled against a 67-year-old Presbyterian pastor were dropped Wednesday by a court in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana, the minister still remains in prison, according to International Christian Concern.
Kazakhstan re-arrests Pastor
International Christian Concern reports that a 67-year-old pastor was charged with religious extremism and imprisoned just hours after he had been released to house arrest for supposedly harming the health of his parishioners.
Pastor Kashkumbayev Mistreated by Kazakhstan Gov’t
After his arrest in May, International Christian Concern reported that Pastor Bakhytzhat Kashkumbayev has been severely mistreated by the Kazakhstan government while it continues to hide his whereabouts.
ICC calls for release of Kazakhstan Pastor
International Christian Concern is calling for the immediate release of a pastor in Kazakhstan who has been falsely imprisoned.
Kazakhstan: Tea and Prayers lead to Pastor’s arrest
A pastor in Kazakhstan was arrested last month for allegedly serving hallucinogens to his congregation while wielding a powerful psychological influence over them.
Appeal overturns Kazakh court’s order to destroy Bibles
An appeals court in Kazakhstan has overturned a previous ruling to destroy Bibles and other Christian literature seized from a street evangelist, according to Barnabas Aid.
Jail for practicing your religion?
In Kazakhstan, anyone who shares their faith could be jailed under proposed new laws that would increase the penalties for those practicing their religion.
Kazakhstan Court Orders Destruction of Bibles, Christian Literature
A court in Kazakhstan has ordered the destruction of Christian literature, including Bibles, seized from a street evangelist.
Kazakhstan: Unregistered Churches, Mosques Forced to Close
Churches and mosques in Kazakhstan are being forced to close as that nation’s deadline for mandatory re-registration expires, but many religious communities have complained that the procedures for their closures were both arbitrary and flawed.
Kazakhstan Adopts Oppressive Religious Law
An oppressive religious law adopted by Kazakhstan last year has reduced the number of officially recognized religions from 46 to 17, according to Eurasianet.
Crackdown On Evangelicals In Central Asian States
Authorities in three Central Asian nations have launched a crackdown on evangelical Protestant churches and several believers are reportedly mistreated, fined and detained.
Kazakhstan Acquits Pastor; Azerbaijan Church Threatened With Closure
Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court has acquitted an evangelical pastor on charges of “severe damage to health due to negligence” after praying for an ill man, but devoted Christians in another former Soviet republic, Azerbaijan, were awaiting whether a high court would ban their church.