Kazakh public religious organization declared extremist
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 8 June 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kazakh public religious organization declared extremist, 8 June 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4fdb2f5128.html [accessed 26 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 08, 2012
By RFE/RL
Kazakh authorities have announced that the "Faith. Knowledge. Life." educational organization has been officially defined as extremist.
The decision on June 7 by a regional court in eastern Kazakhstan was made public a day later by Kazakhstan's prosecutor-general.
The organization says it promotes Sufism – a mystical interpretation of Islam – and denies it has anything to do with any form of extremism.
The court ruled that the organization has to be closed down and any form of membership in it is considered a crime.
In October 2011, 10 leaders and activists of Faith. Knowledge. Life. were sentenced to prison terms between two and 14 years by a court in Almaty.
With reporting by KazInform
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
