The legislation will now be sent to President Nursultan Nazarbaev for his approval. According to Forum 18 News Service, Kazakhstan’s parliament completed its consideration of the new law on 26 November 2008, despite an agreement reached on 25 November 2008 for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to conduct a legislative review of the latest text of controversial new amendments.

The “Law on Amendments and Additions to Several Legislative Acts on Questions of Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations,” amends numerous articles of the current Religion Law, the Code of Administrative Offences and several other laws. It has been amended on several occasions but the revision process has been criticised for its secrecy and specifically for a lack of consultation with civil society.

Government officials refused to make the revised text public prior to 26 November, but it appears that the latest changes include a requirement for permission from both parents for children to attend any religious event. It also increases the punishment for individuals found guilty of holding religious services, conducting charitable work, importing, publishing or distributing religious literature, or building or opening places of worship in violation of “demands established in law”. With large fines anticipated and the fear that many religious groups will be unable to re-register, there are widespread fears about the impact on religious activity. Even the work of faith based charities may now be under threat.

Concerns over the draft law were expressed by the EU in a statement at the OSCE Permanent Council on 23 October 2008, which called on the Senate to reconsider the draft legislation to ensure its consistency with OSCE commitments, specifically those made at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Madrid last year when it was also decided that Kazakhstan would hold the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010.

According to Forum 18 New Service, the President now has a month from receipt of the law to sign it, reject it or send it to the Constitutional Council.

Tina Lambert, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said: “We are very concerned that the new legislation, if adopted, will represent a significant step backwards for Kazakhstan, removing fundamental rights to freedom of religion as upheld by international standards. We urge President Nazarbaev to reconsider and to send this legislation back for revision, under the guidance of the OSCE. It is inconceivable that Kazakhstan could take on the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010 without addressing this situation and ensuring that religious freedom is protected”.

LOVES PARK, ILLINOIS (ANS) — The lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s parliament has passed new legislation that would impose tough new restrictions on foreign missionary activity and evangelical churches.

Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural River in eastern-most Europe.

According to a news release from the Slavic Gospel Association (SGA), Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev would have to approve the legislation before it becomes law.

The news release stated that according to Rev. Franz Tissen, president of the Kazakh Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, the bill contains a number of troubling provisions.

It would establish quotas of missionaries allowed in Kazakhstan. It would also forbid unregistered missionary activity by foreign workers who are not representatives of religious organizations.

Tissen said the bill would also prohibit distribution of religious material and informational material with religious content to citizens in public places and in private homes, unless the person receiving the literature initiates the contact and agrees to receive the literature.

Tissen told SGA the bill would also stop the acceptance of financial and other donations by religious organizations from anonymous or foreign citizens and organizations. In addition, he said, it would forbid religious activities, meetings or gatherings with children under the age of 18 without written agreement from both parents or legal guardians.

According to the news release, the proposed bill would also target the activities and registration of religious groups that have only a small number of members. It would sharply restrict the right to publish religious literature, and would also make it more difficult for a small group to obtain their own place for worship, or to preach outside of the group itself.

Tissen said in a news release, “This is an absolute intrusion into the inner lives of believers, and limits us by laws and fines as we work to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. I appeal to all believers to join us in fasting and praying for the work of God in Kazakhstan.”

SGA president Dr. Robert Provost also said in the news release, “Please make this a matter of urgent, ongoing prayer before the Lord. This is yet another indication that the doors for ministry are, indeed, continuing to close in the former Soviet Union. But our God is sovereign, and He alone can direct the hearts of the rulers of this world.”

SGA is an interdenominational mission which has been working in the former Soviet Union since 1934. SGA has served churches in Russia through pastor and layleader training, sponsorship of national church planters and the provision of Christian literature.

For more information go to www.sga.org