Kazakhstan: Disappointment about hasty adoption of Kazakh law on freedom of religion

26 Nov

Posted by Jim in Human Rights

The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said it was disappointed about the adoption earlier today by the Kazakh parliament of a new law on freedom of religion or belief, and expressed its hope that the President of Kazakhstan will not sign the law in its current form so that it can be revised in order to better reflect international standards.

The law was passed a day after an ODIHR expert team agreed with the Justice Ministry’s Committee on Religious Affairs in Astana to prepare a review of the amended draft of the law. At the request of the Kazakh authorities, ODIHR had already provided a legal opinion on an earlier version of the draft law.

“It is disappointing that the law was adopted in such a hasty way without making full use of broad consultations with civil society and expertise from the international community,” said Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, ODIHR’s Director “We hope the President of Kazakhstan will use his constitutional power to allow for a more transparent and inclusive law-making process that would lead to the adoption of legislation fully reflecting OSCE commitments and other international standards.”

The ODIHR Director said that this would send a positive signal in view of Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010, as it would testify the country’s commitment to international standards and respect for the principles of transparency and inclusiveness in the way the law is developed and adopted.
Link to OSCE

19 Responses

Rev. Dr. Bruce P. Bouchard

December 19th, 2008 at 12:44 am
1

I do hope that the President of Kazakhstan will see that he and the citizens of his country have nothing to fear from religious diversity. We have been observing this practice for over 200 years in the United States. It has made enriched our nation and helped people of different faiths learn from one another.
Linda S. Huber

December 19th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
2

I am hoping that the president of Kazakhstan will reconsider the law limiting freedom of religion. It would seem to be a right that all people should have.
Rev. Julian E. Hall

December 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 am
3

Dear Mr. President,

I hope that devotion for your country will encourage you to move in the direction that would increase trust and hope for your people. Religious diversity enriches and empowers a nation. I do hope that you will reconsider the law limiting freedom of religion.
Sincerely,
Rev. Julian E. Hall
Patricia Paull

December 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
4

Dear Mr. President,

Religious diversity and freedom never threaten a country or its traditions; instead such openness and tolerance enrich and strengthen a nation. I sincerely hope that Kazakhstan will resconsider its law limiting religious freedom and expressoin and will adopt an attitude of inclusion and tolerance that the world will applaud.
Rev. Barbara Gunsel

December 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
5

Dear Mr. President,
Please reconsider your law restricting religious freedom. None of us has all the answers to the mystery of God who is greater than any of us and beyond our understanding and knowing. Each of us merely posseses a piece of the puzzle. If God created each of us in God’s image, then each of us must possess part of God in our being. Diversity does not threaten any country or its peoples. Rather it contributes to the enrichment of a nation if we can look at each other and see God’s handiwork.
Katherine Trimmer

December 27th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
6

Dear Mr. President,

I am hoping that you will reconsider the law limiting religious diversity and expression. The United States has been enriched and strengthened over the years by allowing diversity in religious expression. Our people have learned much by developing not only a tolerance, but also an appreciation for the many forms of religion inherant within our country. There is nothing to fear, and much to gain.
Myrna Morton

December 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
7

Dear Mr. President: I hope that you will use your constitutional power to reconsider this law limiting freedom of religion in your country. Since Kazakhstan will have the chairmanship of OSCE in 2010, here is a real opportunity to show the international community that yoour country’s commitment to religious freedom—as stated in your constitution—is genuine. Myrna Morton
Sean Deverall

January 21st, 2009 at 2:59 pm
8

Dear Mr President

I lived and worked in Kazakhstan for the last 5-6 years, contributing greatly o the development of both the Russian and Kazak people. I considered it my second home and have many many friends there. even invested in property. Unfortunatly corruption is still very rife in all levels of society, even when you make the appropiate complaints through the proper chanels little is done (yes the corruption extends to teh proper chanels as well). I was de frauded out of property, $100,000 due to a scam with a bank and a Kazak citizen yet complaints to the so called financial police were a waste of time and not even acknowledged. As a result I am taking my greviance to a more public forum and speakingto the Presedents office direct. As much as I love Kazakhstan and its people talking about change and openness needs to be backed up by a want to change and be open, false promises of change and hasty laws to win short term political gain dont go very far in the international community especially when it comes to investment. I am certainly very disapointed in the talk of anti corruption yet the lack in tackling it or the want to tackle it at the grass roots.
Rev. Kathi Smith

January 30th, 2009 at 2:38 am
9

Dear Mr. President,

I hope you will reconsider the law which would limit religious diversity and expression. Individual differences in faith and their expression, when recognized and valued, add a depth and richness to the fabric of the whole society.
Henry McLin

January 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
10

Dear Mr. President,

Please amend the law to allow freedom of religion for all. Protect the value of your constitution and your people.

Sincerely,

Henry McLin
Marjorie Coons-Torn

January 30th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
11

Working with a variety of different religious groups professionally has allowed me to be amazed by how much we have to learn from each other, and how impoverished our lives would be without knowing and respecting the beliefs of our neighbors.
Cindy Kane

February 2nd, 2009 at 12:05 am
12

Dr. Mr. President,
Freedom is what makes a country a strong. If you take away your peoples freedoms, you take away their strength. Please reconsider the law that would take away the freedom of religion. Make your country a country people want to live in and be proud of.
Sincerely,
Cindy Kane
Patty Nutter

February 2nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
13

Dear Mr. President,
Please support the freedom of religion for your people. Religious diveristy will strengthen your country and make it a better place for all to live in harmony. It will enrich and empower your people to have more productive and fulfilling lives.
Your consideration of this request is greatly appreciated.
julia cooper

February 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 am
14

Please support freedom of religion for your people. It will strengthen the country & allow for more peace and harmonious living for the people.
Jenni Lobaugh

February 9th, 2009 at 2:36 am
15

Dear Mr. President,
Please support freedom of religion for your people. Religious diversity will strength your country and enrich the people. You have so much to gain by allowing freedom of religion to exist in your country. Please reconsider.
NuraHaqq Melissa Sandoe

February 10th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
16

Dear Mr President

Diversity creates strength. I hope that your great nation will find the example of my nation in allowing freedom of religion for your citizens. Unity comes from the understanding and accepting all.
In peace
Rev. Dr. Bruce P. Bouchard

February 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
17

A friend just shared that the law again religious freedom was found unconstitutional, but the president still has time to respond. Let us continue our messages of supporting religious diversity and freedom in Kazakhstan to encourage the president of that country to support religious liberty.

Bruce Bouchard

KAZAKHSTAN: “THE CURRENT RELIGION LAW WAS FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL”

Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Council announced on 11 February that the restrictive “Law on Amendments and Additions to Several Legislative Acts on Questions of Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations” is unconstitutional.

President Nazarbaev has up to one month to respond to the decision. He can propose changes to the decision, but these must be supported by two-thirds of the Constitutional Council’s members to take effect.

By Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service
Jackie

March 6th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
18

LEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVE
Jackie

March 6th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
19

oops sorry that “LEAAAAAAAVE” thing was on accident… Anyways.. religious freedom is very important beacause without it, It could destroy the people and their lives and could cause devestation and depression. I believe that everyone should have religious freedom..It can bring peace and other great things to this world.

Stay up to date with all of the latest Human Rights Digest News by subscribing to our RSS Feed. Alternatively, you can have updates sent directly to your email address.