ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Baptist prisoner of conscience Roman Dimmel spent three days in prison in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda Region in early May for refusing to pay a fine handed down in 2015 for offering Christian literature and sharing his faith.
He has already served an earlier three-day prison term and been banned from leaving Kazakhstan because of the unpaid fine.
In a separate case two Baptists have been fined in Kostanai Region for offering Christian literature on the streets. A criminal case on charges of inciting religious hatred was dropped. The Christian books, leaflets and CDs seized from them were ordered to be destroyed.
An official of the Regional Religious Affairs Department — which would carry out the destruction — said he would do so if the lower court verdict were confirmed on appeal.
Leaders on the Religious Affairs Committee refused to discuss why individuals are punished for offering religious literature to or sharing their faith with others and why courts order religious literature destroyed.
(F18)
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