Restrictive New Laws in Kyrgyzstan
June 8, 2009
A new religious law went into effect in Kyrgyzstan in January. The law has three focuses: restrictions on sharing faith, restrictions on distributing any religious literature, and the requirement that a church have 200 members before it is allowed to meet. Officials from the Prosecutor's Office, Police, National Security Service, secret police, local Executive Authorities, and the State Agency for Religious Affairs have been rigorously investigating religious communities. Worse, they are taking action.
Several churches have been investigated to ensure that they are neither sharing their faith, nor allowing children to be exposed to religious instruction. Officials demanded that the churches produce the signatures of parents permitting their children to attend church services as the new law requires. Officials also warned that they will strip the registration of the organizations if they find instances of proselytism. At least one Christian instructor was expelled from the country. Even those churches that have not been pressured directly are being required to submit documentation outlining where they meet and proving that any foreigners working with them have the proper permits.
The new law has made registering a church very difficult, if not impossible. Many churches have been forced to abandon their buildings--others have been disbanded because Christians are afraid to register as believers or church members. The Body of Christ in Kyrgyzstan faces stiff opposition, but they continue to search for ways to keep meeting and studying the word of God.
--adapted from Forum 18
A new religious law went into effect in Kyrgyzstan in January. The law has three focuses: restrictions on sharing faith, restrictions on distributing any religious literature, and the requirement that a church have 200 members before it is allowed to meet. Officials from the Prosecutor's Office, Police, National Security Service, secret police, local Executive Authorities, and the State Agency for Religious Affairs have been rigorously investigating religious communities. Worse, they are taking action.
Several churches have been investigated to ensure that they are neither sharing their faith, nor allowing children to be exposed to religious instruction. Officials demanded that the churches produce the signatures of parents permitting their children to attend church services as the new law requires. Officials also warned that they will strip the registration of the organizations if they find instances of proselytism. At least one Christian instructor was expelled from the country. Even those churches that have not been pressured directly are being required to submit documentation outlining where they meet and proving that any foreigners working with them have the proper permits.
The new law has made registering a church very difficult, if not impossible. Many churches have been forced to abandon their buildings--others have been disbanded because Christians are afraid to register as believers or church members. The Body of Christ in Kyrgyzstan faces stiff opposition, but they continue to search for ways to keep meeting and studying the word of God.
--adapted from Forum 18