Christians in Kazakhstan fined, have homes seized

SHYMKENT, Kazakhstan — A mother and her young child have been barred from their home after a court executor sealed the Baptist church premises in Shymkent where they live. The move was meant to prevent the church from meeting and followed the church’s refusal to follow a court order halting its activity because it does not wish to undergo state registration. This is part of an increasing trend in Kazakhstan of seizing homes and other property to punish unregistered religious activity.

In Semey, Baptist pastor Viktor Kandyba, his wife and their 12 children were threatened with the seizure of half their home by July 18 after he refused to pay a fine for leading unregistered worship. “No one appeared or summoned us July 18, but this could come at any time,” Kandyba said. Cars and pigs have already been seized from other Baptists for nonpayment of fines. Kazakhstan’s senior religious affairs official, Yeraly Tugzhanov, denies that the fines and seizure of property represent persecution. “No one is being persecuted for their faith,” he said.