Parliament Approves Freedom of Religion Bill for Presidential Signature
The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan has recently approved two important draft laws related to religious freedoms and regulations in the country. The laws titled “On freedom of religion and religious associations” and “On amendments to some legislative acts of the Kyrgyz Republic in the religious sphere” were passed in the second and third readings and have been sent to the President for signing.
During the discussions on the draft laws, there was a proposal to reduce the fine for wearing a niqab in public places from 20,000 soms to 5,000 soms. However, this proposal did not receive support from the deputies.
One of the key provisions in the draft law “On freedom of religion and religious associations” is the regulation of the process of obtaining foreign religious education. To prevent the influence of destructive religious education from abroad and to collect statistics, individuals seeking foreign religious education will need to coordinate their departure with the State Committee on Religious Affairs and the central governing body of the religious organization.
Additionally, the draft laws propose to prohibit house-to-house visits for the purpose of spreading or imposing religion. This measure aims to protect individuals from unwanted religious solicitation in their homes.
Overall, these draft laws signal the government’s commitment to promoting religious freedom while also establishing regulations to prevent negative influences and ensure the peaceful coexistence of different religious groups in Kyrgyzstan.
