Kazakhstan

Uncategorized

Restrictive new religion law sent to Constitutional Council for review

By the editorial team

Share article

Human rights advocates and religious communities cautiously welcome President Nursultan Nazarbayev's decision to send the new restrictive Religion Law to the Constitutional Council for review. The Council's website states on 08.01.09 that the President has forwarded the draft religion law to "confirm its conformity with the Constitution".

The Constitutional Council consists of people directly appointed by President Nazarbayev and by the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. Both houses are dominated by the president's own party. The new law was approved by both the Upper and Lower Houses. In its current form, the law would impose severe restrictions on freedom of religion, belief and thought.

The Constitutional Council has one month to decide whether a bill is in accordance with the constitution. This means that the ruling must be issued by 08.02.09. (Forum 18 News/Danish European Mission)