Seven people were killed and three wounded in an assault by a member of a radical movement in Kazakhstan. The Prosecution has officially classified the incident as a terrorist attack. Rumours spread over Kazakhstan about shooting in Taraz on Saturday morning, authorities remained silent until the afternoon. Only at 18:00 the Public Prosecutor’s Office informed on the situation; reprimanding bloggers and internet users for contributing to panic by sharing unconfirmed information. The state channel Khabar had a story on the incident for the first time in its 20:00 news.
Terrorist attack
According to the Public Prosecutor, a “jihadist” stole rifles from a hunting shop where he killed two bystanders, returned home to pick up a grenade thrower, and continued shooting close to the Security Police (KNB) office in the centre of Taraz. He killed two KNB officers and two police officers before he blew up himself and the police officer who covered the shooter in order to reduce the damage.
At first, official news informed that it was an independent, lone terrorist. However, later investigators informed that they keep all options open and recently reported that the culprit was linked to the same terrorist group that was behind the blasts in Atyrau: Soldiers of the Khalifate. Prior to the actions in Atyrau, the group had issued a You-Tube video where they threatened the government with action unless they repeal the new law on religion and again allow praying in government institutions.
Bombing attacks have been rare in Kazakhstan, but in May, two explosions including the country’s first known suicide bombing killed at least two people.
President Nazarbayev, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims guaranteed that “the state has all the possibilities, powers, professionalism, and abilities to suppress any manifestation of terrorism against Kazakhstan.” The President also called upon all Kazakhstanis to be vigilant and immediately report on all similar facts to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Recent restrictions on freedom of Religion
The title of the new Religion Law, which replaces the 1992 Law on Freedom of Religious Confession and Religious Association, reads The Law on Religious Activity and Religious Associations. Its preamble points to the particular historic role of Orthodox Christianity and Hannafi Islam in Kazakhstan. The new law will implement the following provisions:
– Law requires that all religious groups re-register according to a complex four-tier system;
– Bans unregistered religious activity;
– Requires missionaries to re-register annually, including persons travelling to a neighboring oblast for talks with a sister congregation;
– Requires both central and local government approval to build or open new places of worship;
– Requires that all religious literature would have to go through thorough verification by the Agency for Religious Affairs in a practice that in practice equals to censorship.
The second law, The Law on introducing Amendments and Additions to several legal acts questions of Religious Activity and Religious Associations, amends nine other laws and legal provisions. In particular, amendments of the Article 375 of the Code of Administrative Offences and of the Law on the Rights of the Child could have far-reaching impact on freedom of religion or belief.
Norwegian Helsinki Committee Position
Religious believers that do not adhere to so-called traditional religions of Sunni Islam or Orthodox Christianity have been experiencing increasing pressure from the government and the society in Kazakhstan. – We strongly hope that similar violent actions do not reoccur, and urge any groups to refrain from such methods. However, we also urge authorities to develop policies to prevent such actions that do not limit fundamental freedoms. We are concerned such policies will only work against its purpose, concludes Engesland. Examples from other countries show that respecting freedoms is part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Respecting fundamental freedoms is also part of the comprehensive security concept of the organisation that Kazakhstan led last year, the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Fighting terrorism while respecting freedoms and human rights is at the core of what this organisation stands for.
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