On July 19, Polisia.kz. discovered an underground circle conducting illegal religious classes for minors in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan and it has raised concerns about the potential influence of unauthorised teachings on young minds. The man responsible for conducting these classes was revealed by the joint efforts of the department for combating extremism and the national security committee for the region.
Operating from his own residence, the man provided religious lessons and sermons to as many as 68 children, ranging in age from 5 to 17 years, charging a fee of 100,000 tenge ($225) per month. The extent of the operation is alarming, as children not only from Turkestan but also from East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl regions, Abay region, and even the Republic of Uzbekistan were found to be participating in these classes.
The involvement of minors from different regions and even neighbouring countries emphasises the potential reach and impact of such unauthorised religious teachings. The fact that more than 100 religious books were seized from the man's residence further highlights the seriousness of the situation.
In response to the violation of the Republic of Kazakhstan's legislation on religious activities and associations, an administrative protocol was drawn up against the individual responsible for conducting these classes. Under Part 3 of Art. 490 of the Code of Administrative Offences, he could face a fine of 345 thousand tenge ($777).
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Threads pages to keep up to date on world news.
Comments (0)