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The central Asian republic of Kazakhstan is preparing to outlaw all unregistered religious organisations and activities. Religious bodies with fewer than 50 members, even if registered, will face severe limitations.
Kazakhstan's religious minorities have told Forum 18 News Service of their concern over the new Religion Law now being prepared by the government's Religious Affairs Committee. According to one recent draft, seen by Forum 18, all unregistered religious activity would be banned, while communities with fewer than 50 adult citizen members would be prohibited from publishing or importing religious literature, maintaining open places of worship or conducting charitable activity.
The draft law does not spell out the procedure for registration, leaving wide scope for arbitrariness and abuse.
The proposed law requires foreigners entering the country in order to lead religious activity to obtain permission from the Religious Affairs Committee. The committee's approval would also be necessary for construction of places of worship.
Most Protestant churches in the country have fewer than 50 members.
Kazakhstan is by far the largest and most economically prosperous of the Central Asia republics. It is also the only one with a large ethnic Russian population. Russians, who are predominately Orthodox, comprise almost half the population. Most of the rest are ethnic Kazakhs who tend to be Sunni Muslim, but few are fanatical, or even particularly devoted, followers of Islam.
The Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams gave a fascinating interview to the Dar es Salaam Guardian following the primates’ meeting. Guardian Deputy Managing Editor Bernard Mapalala made the exchange especially interesting by asking about issues that Western journalists rarely pursue (at least, with Anglicans), e.g., end-time events.
The collect for today, the Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: