COUNTRIES

Fate of the first city stone mosque founded in the 18^th century has long been discussed in Petropavlovsk. An auto repair shop, a hotel, a café and a sauna are now located in the territory of the cult facility. The Muslim community feels indignant about it: how can one take a bath and barbecue at a place that was used for praying before? According to the owner of the land plot, he purchased the land plot legally, and the building is of no architectural merit. CABAR.asia interviewed both parties. (more…)

“Travel agency principal who deceived pilgrims was detained.” “Scammers deceive about 50 pilgrims from Almaty and Shymkent.” “Tokayev demands to punish those who deceived Kazakhstanis who went to Mecca for hajj.” These are the headlines of Kazakhstan media during the pilgrimage of Muslims to holy places. CABAR.asia figures out why there are problems related to hajj. (more…)

Religious leaders, particular persons preaching religious values use social media to communicate with the audience. How to identify those ‘digital preachers’ who aim for destruction? (more…)

Some commentators on social media justify the homicide of Saltanat Nukenova, wife of ex-head of the ministry of national economy of Kazakhstan, by religion. CABAR.asia asked experts if religion truly justifies abuse of women. (more…)

There are eight female monastic communities, including two monasteries, in North Kazakhstan region. Nuns stage performances at one of them, and never leave another one. CABAR.asia reveals more interesting things taking place in monasteries. (more…)

Should religious content be evaluated by the state before being posted on social media? Statutory provisions in this regard are vague and enable broad interpretation. The editorial staff of CABAR.asia discovers why such interpretation is possible and if there is the need for evaluation of all religious materials. (more…)

“Will niqab, hijab and short pants be forbidden?” Journalists asked this question to the minister of culture and information of Kazakhstan. According to Aida Balayeva, “We will definitely study these norms and offer our solutions.” This answer came amid parliamentary inquiries about “strange movements under the guise of Islam” threatening the principles of the Kazakh society.

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Kazakhstan should live according to Sharia law, according to Nurtas Adambai, a prominent Kazakh actor and director. How does the republic assess this statement? (more…)

“My daughter wears a headscarf and she is not allowed to attend public school. I teach her at home, and she also attends the course of English at the training centre,” a mother based in West Kazakhstan region said wondering why her child cannot pursue secondary education. (more…)

“I am a religious person, and I thought that people would be honest and I wanted to invest some money in the campaign,” a Kazakhstani man who invested his money in the Ponzi scheme, Mudarabah Capital, explained his behaviour. The scheme has duped 200 persons. Why did they rise to the ‘religious’ bait so easily?

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