The peaceful coexistence of the two mainstream religious trends in Kazakhstan, Islam and Christianity, is often held up by officials as a perfect model of spiritual harmony in a secular society. After independence, mosques and churches, Sunday schools and spiritual colleges have sprung up like mushrooms everywhere. Interestingly, many of the former atheistic communists have become deeply pious lately.

April 2001 reports of the State Council of Religious Associations say that there are 1150 Islamic and 229 Russian Orthodox Church congregations in the country. In 1990 these figures were as low as 46 and 62 respectively. Moderate versions of Islam and Christianity are welcomed by the state. But this idyllic picture seems to be changing. Many ‘unconventional’ religious trends have arrived to fill the spiritual void after the fall of communist ideology. Government is increasingly worried whether Islamic colleges in the predominantly Muslim South are preaching the right sort of Islam, and governing bodies try to stifle the nascent religious militant movements. The newly appointed head of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Kazakhstan is taking efforts to unify the Islamic congregations of the country. Nevertheless the situation is really alarming. Earlier this year four adherents of the militant Islamic group Hizb-e-Tahrir were arrested in the southern cities of Turkestan and Kentau. They were charged with possessing drugs, firearms and ammunitions. In another incident, a detained member of Hizb-e-Tahrir was reported to have distributed books named ‘An-nizam Islamiya’ (‘Islamic order’) inciting people to overthrow the government.

But judges found it hard to apply the existing Law on Religious Freedom in this unprecedented case. The law adopted in 1992 is ill-fit to the realities of today. The new draft law made public in April contains amendments aimed at banning extremist religious groups and makes it mandatory for missionaries to register with the government. These stipulations would enable governing bodies to keep a close watch on the 40-odd religious sects now active in the country. Not surprisingly, these steps are applauded by moderate Islamic and Russian Orthodox Church leaders who vigorously rival with newly emerging ‘alien’ religious trends. Poor families are easily attracted by thick money-bags of missionaries from overseas. Indeed, it is a Roman Catholic Church or an evangelical priest who reaches out a helping hand in time to the needy and unemployed. The current situation puts the government before a dilemma. As a member of the OSCE, Kazakhstan must remain committed to its obligations to respect the rights of believers of any color, on the other hand officials try to keep a tight rein on numerous sects, which, they fear, may lead the nation to moral decay and religious strife.

Marat Yermukanov, Kazakhstan.