Kyrgyzstan: New Law Attacks Religious Freedom

The church in Kyrgyzstan is facing severe restrictions of religious freedom, as officials from the country’s National Security Committee (NSC) and State Commission for Religious Affairs (SCRA) propose to submit a new version of the current Religion Law to the Kyrgyz parliament.

Among the proposed changes, the amended version requires all religious communities to apply for state registration (a current requirement) and for their re-registration every five years.

An earlier bill drawn up in October 2023 was rejected by parliament in June this year.

Under the new law, religious communities must provide evidence of at least 200 adult members living in a single district. National organisations must be represented by a minimum of 2,000 members from communities with a population of 300 or more adults. The communities must span each of the country’s nine regions.
 

Churches Closed By Law

The proposed law will require individuals to gain permission from the SCRA before conducting any preaching activities. It also bans religious education (both children and adults) without SCRA authorisation.

Several religious communities, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of state reprisal, complained that neither the SCRA or other state authorities have informed or consulted them on the proposed new law.

“I am afraid that if these changes are adopted, and if the authorities continue their past strategies, many churches will be closed down,” one believer shares.

The new Religion Law—if adopted by parliament and signed by the president—will come into effect on 1 February 2025, 10 days after its official publication.