Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov has signed into law amendments to the country’s legislation regulating the religious sphere.
The amendments were passed by the Kyrgyz parliament on December 26, 2024 with the purpose to ensure the rights and establish the responsibility of citizens and religious associations in their religious activities in accordance with the Law “On Freedom of Religion and Religious Associations”.
The amendments ban wearing clothing that does not allow a person’s identification in government offices and public places, such as a niqab. The exceptions are clothing required for work and clothing that covers the face for medical reasons.
The new law prohibits actions preventing the exercise of the right to freedom of religion, as well as any coercion aimed at converting individuals to a particular religion.
The amendments ban holding religious ceremonies, meetings and other religious events in nursing homes and homes for the disabled, correctional institutions, pre-trial detention centers, and military units with the invitation of religious figures and preachers of foreign religious organizations.
The amendments prohibit any interference by religious organizations in the activities of state authorities and local governments, and ban dissemination of religious literature, audio and video materials in public places, educational institutions, as well as by going door to door.
The new law prohibits establishing political parties on a religious basis and their financing by legal entities and individuals of a foreign state.
It also bars civil servants from engaging in religious activities, and prohibits the use and dissemination of religious information in electoral campaigning.
