In the summer edition of the Danish European Mission magazine, readers could sign and send an enclosed letter to the authorities in Kazakhstan appealing for Pastor Kashkumbayev to be released and acquitted of the unjust charges.
He was forcibly medicated
On September 5, he was discharged from the psychiatric hospital in Almaty. The head doctor would not tell Forum 18 - a news agency co-founded by the Danish European Mission - whether the hospital had concluded that Pastor Kashkumbayev was mentally healthy and responsible for his actions. Pastor Kashkumbayev was forcibly medicated once, which caused such a strong reaction that the hospital did not subsequently medicate him. He is now in a prison in Astana and his case is still under investigation.
Can't the authorities find anything on him?
It was all the way back in May that the pastor was imprisoned - and under Kazakh law, he can be held for up to six months before going on trial. Remarkably, the trial has not yet begun, and the reason may be that the prosecution simply can't find anything to charge the pastor with and is afraid of losing a possible trial.
Kashkumbayev's lawyer is not informed
"I have also tried to get access to the documents in the case - but in vain," says the pastor's lawyer Beysekeyev. He notes that on July 26, the court ruled that he and Kashkumbayev's son should be given access to the documents in the case. But despite the ruling coming into effect on August 8, they still have not been granted access. "This is a gross violation of the law - court decisions must be followed by everyone." Beysekeyev has filed a written complaint about this. He also mentioned that he has not been allowed to meet with his client since July 18, when he met with him in the Astana prison where he was held before being transferred to Almaty. "My client has not been brought to the courtroom for the various hearings, despite my request. He is de facto being held in solitary confinement".
Response from Kazakhstan authorities
The Kazakhstan authorities have - in Russian - replied to the readers of the summer edition of the Danish European Mission magazine and our e-newsletter who appealed via email for Pastor Kashkumbayev. It is very positive that the Kazakhstan authorities are aware of the appeals and that they respond at all.
The authorities' response states that civil liberties are guaranteed in the constitution, just as the constitution guarantees independent courts. Whether the beautiful rules of the constitution are enforced remains to be seen in the authorities' handling of Pastor Kashkumbayev's case.
Kashkumbayev is 67 years old and has a disability
Pastor Kashkumbayev is 67 years old and was formerly a professor at the University of Karaganda in Kazakhstan. In 2010, he suffered a heart attack, which limited his ability to function.
He began pastoring in Astana in 1995, a few years after his conversion from "traditional" Islam.
Thank you to everyone
Thank you to all who pray for this bold pastor. The Danish European Mission is following the case closely and will inform about news, including on forfølgtekristne.dk, facebook, via the e-newsletter, sms with breaking news and the magazine.
