Laws Regulating Religion in Central Asia

Sep 09

WHEN:

Sep 9th 10:30am

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing 
 

Laws Regulating Religion in Central Asia
 

September 9, 2025
10:30 AM-12:00 PM ET

Virtual

Hearing Transcript

Hearing Summary
 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on laws regulating religion in Central Asia.

USCIRF’s visit to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in June 2025 confirmed that both governments continue to use a framework of legislation to restrict peaceful religious activities. Authorities in both countries arbitrarily employ laws on religion and extremism to target minority religious groups and Muslims who deviate from the state’s preferred interpretation of Islam. USCIRF has highlighted similar trends in its reporting on neighboring Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This hearing will spotlight the legal frameworks regulating religion across Central Asia and how such legislation fails to adhere to international standards of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

Witnesses discussed the impact of these laws on individuals, highlighting specific FoRB Victims imprisoned due to their religion or belief, and considered potential policy options the United States government can take to advance FoRB throughout Central Asia.

In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List, or SWL, for engaging in systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom. USCIRF also recommended that the State Department continue to designate Turkmenistan and Tajikistan as Countries of Particular Concern, or CPCs, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.


Opening Remarks

Panel

  • Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin, Former Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism 
    Written Testimony

  • John Kinahan, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford
    Written Testimony

  • Indira Aslanova, Religious Studies Expert
    Written Testimony

  • Yevgeniy Zhovtis, Chief-Expert Consultant, Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law
    Written Testimony
     

Submitted for the Record

  • Vera Schreider, Daughter of FoRB Prisoner Pavel Schreider 
    Recorded Remarks
     

  • Danil Buglov, Religious Scholar, Association of Religion Organizations of Kazakhstan
    Written Remarks

This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email [email protected].