New legislation in Kyrgyzstan has increased restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, including a ban on sharing faith in public.
It was announced on 21 January that President Sadyr Japarov had signed into law the new Religion Law (effective as of 1 February) and accompanying Amending Law (effective as of 3 February).
Among numerous restrictions, the Religion Law maintains the ban on all unregistered religious activities.

Parliament building, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan [ Image credit: Adam Harangozó]
Churches and other religious groups must be approved by the State Commission for Religious Affairs (SCRA) to legally exist and hold meetings. In order to be registered, all local religious organisations must now provide evidence of at least 500 adult founder members resident in a single region. (The previous law stipulated a minimum of 200.)
The Amending Law authorises sharp increases in fines for groups that violate such restrictions.
The Zhogorku Kenesh (Parliament) in the capital Bishkek gave final approval to the two new laws on 26 December.
Christians have expressed concerns that the new law will force churches to close down. “The new law does not make anything better or easier for us to practise our faith, but makes it more difficult,” commented one church leader. “I have stopped believing in any improvements in the laws or in the attitude of the government towards us Christians.”
Another Christian agreed, saying, “It will be almost impossible to register new churches with 500 founders.”
Objections to the legislation were raised by legal experts. Chinara Musabekova, a lecturer at the Higher School of Justice under the Supreme Court and an official in the Association of Women Judges, argued that there was no need for such stringent regulations.
“[We] must distinguish between those who want to be a regular religious organisation, and small numbers of people who want to meet in private,” she said, adding that compulsory state registration for a group to exist “is not right in terms of jurisprudence”.
Pray that Christians will find ways of meeting and sharing fellowship despite the restrictions of the new law. Ask that the faith of believers will be increased. Pray against any discouragement among Christians arising from the government’s decision.