Baptists fined; Kazakhs to face harsher law

Baptists fined; Kazakhs to face harsher law

KALBATAU, Kazakhstan — Seven Baptists who met for worship in East Kazakhstan Region were recently fined for meeting without state permission. The verdict was passed Aug. 29 by Judge Aigul Saduakasova.

The small church has adopted a policy of civil disobedience and has refused to pay the fines for exercising its right to freedom of religion or belief.

Meanwhile the government is expected to sign off on an anti-“extremism” law that would amend six codes and 18 individual laws currently in place — some of which would increase state-imposed pre-publication censorship of all religious literature. Other restrictions, according to Forum 18 News, would be imposed on the distribution of religious literature, including literature that is brought into the country. The draft of the amendments was published online July 7.

However, some believe the content currently posted will become more harsh once the amendments are finalized. (TAB)