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2018-01-18

• Proposed Legislation Poses New Restrictions
  
  Kazakhstan's Parliament Buildings
  Photo: Wikimedia Commons

  Kazakhstan is on the verge of passing legislation which proposes changes to the 2011 Religion Law, Administrative Code, and many other laws. The Religious Affairs Committee refused to explain why the Amending Law does not remove any restrictions from the existing law, even though they violate Kazakhstan's international human rights obligations. There was also no explanation regarding the addition of further restrictions.

• Military Blockade Presents Barriers for Christians

  

  A blockade enforced by the Burmese military has caused added suffering to numerous Christians in the northern state of Kachin. According to Rev. Je Di, a church leader from the town of Tanai, the military has been restricting deliveries of rice and fuel into the town for months. As a result, the price of fuel has skyrocketed and food supplies have dwindled.

• Bible Amazingly Survives Firebombing

  

  On January 3rd, militant Muslims firebombed a church in the village of Kaji-Say, located within Issyk-Kul Region, causing extensive damage to the building and its contents. In the events leading up to the incident, the militants had doused the Evangelical Christian Baptist Church with petrol and set it on fire in what may have been an opposing reaction to a series of outreach meetings that were held in the community. (New regulations in Kyrgyzstan strictly forbid any kind of missionary work.) Thankfully, there were no congregation members in the church at the time of the attack.