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Kyrgyzstan

• Pastor Sentenced to Serve at a Labour Camp

  

  In November 2024, national security police in Kyrgyzstan arrested Pastor Pavel Shreider and placed him in detention. At the time of the church leader's arrest, authorities also raided his home, along with the residences of several other Christians. In the process, thousands of books and Bibles were confiscated, along with cash and cell phones.

• New Religion Law Takes Effect

  

  On December 12th, 2024, a draft bill was introduced to the parliament of Kyrgyzstan which proposed significantly tighter restrictions on the country's existing religion law. Referred to as a "very dangerous law," the draft legislation sought to enact stricter registration requirements, prohibit the public sharing of one's faith, and mandated that religious communities possess a minimum of 500 adult members in order to gain legal status. For more information, see our previous report.

• New Religion Law Passes First Reading

  

  While the Kyrgyzstan constitution guarantees freedom of religion, various laws imposing significant restrictions on religious gatherings have been passed over the years, as well those forbidding proselytism and the distribution of religious literature. Since the 2008 Religion Law came into effect, churches were required to register with the government and, in order to do so, they had to consist of more than 200 adult members. In the years following, further modifications have frequently been proposed. One such bill was introduced in October 2023, but the parliament rejected it on June 6th, 2024. (Read more.)

• Proposed Religion Law Amendments Rejected

  

  In October 2023, a bill that would put significant restrictions on religious organizations in Kyrgyzstan passed its first reading. Of particular concern to human rights experts were the legislation's vague wording (which could potentially be subjected to abuse) and the strict new requirements for financial reporting. Previously published details on the proposed restrictions are available here.

• New Bill Further Restricts Nonprofit Groups

  

  Human rights organizations are cautious as a new bill works its way through the Kyrgyz parliament, passing its first reading on October 25th. If implemented, the legislation would require a nonprofit organization or human rights group receiving international funding to register with the Justice Ministry as a "foreign representative." This act would target any organization engaged in "political activity," which the proposed legislation defines as "action aimed at changing state policy and shaping public opinion for these purposes."

• Fines for ''Missionary Activities''

  

  In multiple incidents that took place during late March, Christians from registered churches in Kyrgyzstan were issued fines for conducting "illegal missionary activities." News of the raids had not been released until recently due to fear of reprisals.

• Violent Attacks Against Christians

  

  In October 2018, a young Christian, Eldos Sattar uuly, sustained a broken jaw and other injuries after a violent attack in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan (see this report). While those responsible were charged, they were sentenced to house arrest, which is not being enforced.

• Young Convert Suffers Severe Beating

  

  A young Christian in the village of Tamchi, Kyrgyzstan, was left fighting for his life after three Muslim men badly beat him on October 17th. The attackers cornered Eldos, a 25-year-old convert from Islam, and attempted to force him to recite the shahada, the Islamic creed used to signify conversion. When Eldos refused, he was viciously beaten, leaving him with a concussion, fractured jaw, missing teeth, and an eye injury.

• Church Comprising Converts Ordered Closed

  

  A church in Kyrgyzstan, attended by many former Muslims, has been ordered to cease operations. Twice in the past few months, Sunday services have been interrupted by a group consisting of local officials, representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and others. While the church tried to settle the conflict, the opposing group has continued to issue threats and insults. "You will not be able to live and carry out your ministry here," members of the church were told.

• 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.