Kazakhstan

A petition asking for recognition of the Tengrism as one of the official religions of Kazakhstan has been launched on website epetition.kz. Authors of the petition claim that the number of Kazakhstanis practising Tengrism can reach one million in the near future. CABAR.asia shows the perspectives of the initiative from legal and religious points of view. (more…)

Writing about religion is a difficult task that needs a special approach. It is critical for a journalist to maintain an open mind and avoid biased approach. (more…)

The town of Jarkent (Kazakhstan) was founded in 1882 on the border of China as a trade settlement, where many ethnicities were merchants: Kazakhs, Uighurs, Russians, Dungans, Chinese. Trade flourished, the town developed, while local merchants invested money not only in their businesses, but also in the town architecture. As a result, a unique wooden mosque built in the form of a Chinese pagoda, a multilayer Buddhist or Taoist temple, has reached our days. (more…)

Jehovah’s Witnesses admit they feel social stigma. CABAR.asia learns about the reasons for stigma and how the Christian organisation tries to change the attitude towards it in the society. (more…)

Jehovah’s Witnesses admit they feel social stigma. CABAR.asia learns about the reasons for stigma and how the Christian organisation tries to change the attitude towards it in the society. (more…)

The town of Turkestan in Kazakhstan has become a spot of attraction of Muslims due to philosopher, preacher and Sufi poet Khoja Yasawi. A mausoleum has been built over the tomb of this saint by order of Amir Timur. It is still the place of worship for Muslims not only from Kazakhstan, but also from all over the world. (more…)

On April 10, 2024, several thousand people gathered in the central mosque of Almaty, the largest metropolitan city of the republic, to pray at one of the most important holidays of the Muslims, Oraza Ait. (more…)

“The attempt of radical neophytes to fob off foreign religious ideals on the society, including in the form of the archaic attire, is a blatant challenge to our traditional principles and values.” This is what the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev said at the National Kurultai (assembly). Who was the message addressed to and what does it mean for the social and economic life of the country? (more…)

The meaning of religion for residents of Kazakhstan is changing: there are more people with religious views. This is evidenced by the World Values Survey programme, which was used for two surveys in Kazakhstan – in 2011 and 2018. (more…)

The religious sphere of Kazakhstan is very politicised and always causes a lot of discussions in public space. Highly qualified staff is needed to shape adequate policy solutions in such a sensitive sphere as religion, which, in turn, depends on the education provided by universities teaching future religious scholars. (more…)