Good Friday: Raid and smear campaign against Kazakh Christians

Image from the airport: Untrue information about Pastor Ivan on the left and Vadim on the right was broadcast on Kazakh TV, accusing them of fleeing the country.

In this dramatic way, the church's management was informed that it had been charged with fraud - based on alleged complaints from former members that the church had confiscated large sums of money and property under the guise of collecting collections. Police confiscated computers, documents and television cameras used to produce Christian television.

Outrageous allegations in the media about escape and weapons

In addition to the search, the largely state-controlled media immediately began spreading outrageous rumors about the church. First, one media outlet claimed that weapons had been found in the church during the search. However, it was later revealed that the image used by the media was a fake and originated in Russia.

Image: The article with the image of the alleged weapon find in the church.

Furthermore, pastors were accused of trying to flee the country. Kazakh television showed images of Pastor Vadim and Pastor Ivan at the airport and told viewers that they were about to flee the country.

Image: Untrue information about Pastor Ivan on the left and Vadim on the right was broadcast on Kazakh TV.

However, Vadim was simply driving Ivan to the airport so he could travel to Kyrgyzstan - a trip that, according to Forum 18, a news service co-founded by the Danish European Mission, he had planned well in advance.

Evangelization - the real reason?

While some churches in Kazakhstan enjoy a certain freedom to practice their faith, others are under severe pressure from the authorities. In the latter group are churches that take Jesus' words in the Great Commission in Matthew chapter 28 seriously to preach the gospel - also to the Muslim majority in the country. If churches fail to share the gospel with Muslims, they are given freedom, but if they evangelize among Muslims, they are persecuted.

Conversion to the Christian faith = persecution

It was only a short time ago that a Kazakh priest, Kashkumbayev, who had converted from Sunni Islam to Christianity, was imprisoned on false charges of making a church member mentally ill. However, due to united support from the church in Kazakhstan and international pressure, including support from the Danish European Mission, he was released in 2014. Read more about the case here.