International Religious Freedom Report, 2010: Kazakhstan (July-December 2010).

摘要

The constitution protects religious freedom; however, other laws and policies restrict religious freedom and, in practice, the government generally enforced these restrictions. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government during the reporting period. The government generally respected the religious freedom of most registered religious groups; however, it enforced existing restrictions on unregistered groups and some other minority religious groups. The law imposes mandatory registration requirements on missionaries and religious organizations, which led to continuing problems for some groups. While the majority of religious communities worshipped largely without government interference, local officials attempted to limit some minority groups' practice of religion, often through raids and brief detention of members. Local and national law enforcement authorities prosecuted and fined nontraditional religious groups for conducting illegal or unsanctioned educational, religious, or entrepreneurial activities. Amid government-generated rhetoric on the need to fight 'religious extremism,' some minority religious group members continued to be accused of terrorism. There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Muslim, Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Jewish leaders reported high levels of acceptance in society. Some minority religious groups, including evangelical Christians and Scientologists, faced negative media coverage. The U.S. government discusses religious freedom with the government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. The ambassador and other U.S. officials engaged in extensive private and public dialogue with the government to urge that any amendments to the religion laws be consistent with the country's constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and with its international commitments.