Full state censorship of all religious literature published, distributed or photocopied in Kyrgyzstan, or imported into the country, as well as a ban on sharing beliefs in public – particularly from door to door – could become law after 1 June.
Proposed amendments to the 2009 Religion Law are due to have their first reading in the Zhogorku Kenesh (Parliament) in the capital Bishkek.
The amendments were prepared by the State Commission for Religious Affairs (SCRA), which has been headed since 13 February by Zaiyrbek Ergeshov.
Other provisions in the proposed amendments include a rise in the number of adult citizens living in one place required before a religious community can apply for registration from 200 to 500, as well as a requirement that even adults who travel abroad for religious education have to inform the state where they are studying.
Punishments have not yet been set out for those violating any of these provisions.
[Editor: Turkmenistan made a similar change of law regarding registration of people in 2016.]
