Kazakhstan: Ahmadi Muslims Worship Closed Down Everywhere, Methodist Congregation Next?

Community member Nurym Taibek told Forum 18 they see no point in appealing against the decision and said that they "have given up hope" of resuming worship in their building. 

Source/Credit: Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Forum 18 News Service
By Mushfig Bayram | April 24, 2012

Public religious worship by the Ahmadi Muslim community has been forced to stop throughout Kazakhstan as they no longer have anywhere they can legally meet, community members lamented to Forum 18 News Service.
 

The Ahmadi Muslim community in Kazakhstan's commercial capital Almaty was forced to close on 2 March after being fined by Land Inspectors for using a private home for religious worship.

The enforced closure of their places of worship is a result of the continuing campaign by Land Agency officials, Prosecutor's Offices and other authorities to stop and punish meetings for religious worship in private homes, Forum 18 notes.
The campaign – which targets both registered and unregistered religious communities - appears to have been stepped up again since early 2012.

Also threatened by Land Inspectors is a small Methodist Church in Taldykorgan near Almaty where the owner of the home where the Church meets was fined by Land Inspectors in April for using her private home for worship.

The Pastor told Forum 18 that he is now afraid that his Church will be closed down.

Land Inspectors from both Almaty City and Almaty Region told Forum 18 that they are inspecting all religious communities' properties to see if properties and land are used for their proper purpose.

Owners of buildings that are not approved specifically for religious worship face warnings to halt religious activity and possible punishments if they do not comply.

One Land Inspector told Forum 18 the order came from the Prosecutor's Office. Almaty City Prosecutor's Office refused to discuss their actions with Forum 18.

Kazakhstan's authorities also appear to be stepping up raids on unregistered religious communities, particularly on member congregations of the Baptist Council of Churches who meet in places of worship in private homes.

These congregations refuse on principle to submit to state registration, and their leaders are often warned and fined.

Among recent cases, authorities in Kostanai Region warned Baptists that they are allowed neither to conduct religious activity in a private home, nor to conduct unregistered activity.

Source/Credit: Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Forum 18 News Service
By Mushfig Bayram | April 24, 2012

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