Kazakhstan's controversial restrictions on freedom of thought and belief have been passed in the lower house of parliament, the Majilis. "The Senate will consider the law in a few days and then it will go to the president," said Kayrat Tulesov, the head of the Religious Affairs Committee. "We are trying to get this law passed in its current form." He dismissed the many harsh criticisms of the bill from human rights defenders and religious organizations. The bill expands the Religion Law, administrative regulations and other laws.
Kamal Burkhanov, head of the House of Commons working group that is drafting the text of the law, is finalizing it. He declined to publish the text. "It's our law and actually it shouldn't worry you," Human rights defenders in Kazakhstan, such as Ninel Kokina, head of the Helsinki Committee in Almata, strongly criticized the lack of transparency and the delay in publishing the text. She pointed out that "clarifications" can still be added to the bill before it is sent to the Senate.
A high-ranking official has allegedly claimed that the state is planning very carefully and very precisely and very coordinated and "without fuss" to close down some religious organizations. (Forum 18 News/Danish European Mission)
