Religion in Kazakhstan

File:Church of the East in the Middle Ages.svg and its largest extent during the Middle Ages.]]

The country has historically hosted a wide variety of ethnic groups with varying religions. The foundation of an independent republic, following the disintegration of the USSR, has launched a great deal of changes in every aspect of people's lives. Religiosity of the population, as an essential part of any cultural identity, has undergone dynamic transformations as well.

Baptist Churches are often raided. This is due to the church members gathering without registering themselves, a requirement of the country. Anyone who does not register risk being raided by the police. However not only those that violate the law are treated harshly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/raids-churches-kazakhstan/|title=Raids on Churches in Kazakhstan - Open Doors USA - Open Doors USA|work=Open Doors USA |last1=Doors |first1=Open }}

On May 2, 2017, a court in the capital of Astana, Kazakhstan, sentenced a 61-year-old husband and father of three sons to a five-year prison sentence for performing peaceful Bible education work. Teymur Akhmedov, is a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. The court called his preaching and teaching efforts “inciting religious discord” and “advocating [religious] superiority.” In addition, the judge also imposed a three-year ban on Mr. Akhmedov’s participation in Bible education activities. Mr Akhmedov's medical issues were not considered, as he requires treatment for a bleeding tumor and has been denied the medical attention that he requires.{{cite web | url=https://www.jw.org/en/news/releases/by-region/kazakhstan/imprisons-ailing-jehovahs-witness-bans-his-worship/ | title=Kazakhstan Imprisons Ailing Jehovah's Witness and Bans His Worship }}

After decades of suppressed culture, the people were feeling a great need to exhibit their ethnic identity - in part through religion. Quantitative research shows that for the first years after the establishment of the new laws, waiving any restrictions on religious beliefs and proclaiming full freedom of confessions, the country experienced a huge spike in religious activity of its citizens. Hundreds of mosques, synagogues, churches, and other religious structures were built in a matter of years. All represented religions benefited from increased number of members and facilities. Many confessions that were absent before independence made their way into the country, appealing to hundreds of people. The government supported this activity, and has done its best to provide equality among all religious organizations and their followers. In the late 1990s, however, a slight decline in religiosity occurred.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} The draft religion law being considered in June 2008 has raised international concern over whether there is an intention to meet general standards of freedom of religion and human rights.{{cite web|url=https://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1141|title=KAZAKHSTAN: Restrictive draft Religion Law to reach full parliament tomorrow|last=Bayram|first=Mushfig|date=2008-06-10|publisher=Forum 18|access-date=2009-06-05}}

{{main|Islam in Kazakhstan}}

File:Kazakhs 19th Century 4.jpg Imam in traditional clothes]]

Islam is the most commonly practiced religion in Kazakhstan; it was introduced to the region during the 9th century by the gulf region.{{cite web |url=http://www.hope4astana.com/Beliefs/default.htm |title=The Beliefs of the Kazakhstan People |access-date=2008-05-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918221154/http://www.hope4astana.com/Beliefs/default.htm |archive-date=2008-09-18 }} The Beliefs of the Kazakhstan people Traditionally ethnic Kazakhs are muslim who mainly follow the Hanafi school.[http://www.usembassy.kz/documents/irf-2006.html International Religious Freedom Report 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622235443/http://www.usembassy.kz/documents/irf-2006.html |date=2008-06-22 }} U.S. Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan

Kazakhs including other ethnic groups of Muslim background make up over 90 per cent of all Muslims.Estimation based on Kazakh population share of 67% ([http://www.kz2009.kz/materials/Documents/%D0%98%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%2010%20%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B9%20%D1%81%2025%20%D1%84%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%206%20%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0.doc Итоги 10 дней с 25 февраля по 6 марта]{{dead link|date=June 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}) and 16.3 mln total population according to the preliminary results of {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090421064834/http://www.kz2009.kz/Pages/Default.aspx the 2009 National Census]}} The southern region of the country has the highest concentration of self-identified practicing Muslims.

{{main|Christianity in Kazakhstan}}

File:E8478-Almaty-Ascension-Cathedral.jpg in Almaty]]

Christianity in Kazakhstan is the second most practiced religion after Islam. Most Christian citizens are Russians, and to a lesser extent Ukrainians and Belarusians, who belong to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The 2021 census noted that Kazakhstan is 17.19% Christian.{{Cite web |url=https://stat.gov.kz/api/getFile/?docId=ESTAT464825 |title=2021 жылғы Қазақстан Республикасы халқының ұлттық санағының қорытындылары |trans-title=Results of the 2021 Population Census of the Republic of Kazakhstan |publisher=Agency of Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan National Bureau of Statistics |access-date=19 September 2022 |language=Kazakh}} Other figures suggest that 24% of the population is Orthodox, 1% is either Protestant or Catholic and 1% belongs to other Christian denominations.

In 2009, Christian groups included Lutheranism, Presbyterians, Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists, Pentecostals, Baptist (Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists of Kazakhstan), Mennonites and Mormons.{{cite web|url=http://www.eng.stat.kz/news/Pages/n1_12_11_10.aspx|title=The results of the national population census in 2009|date=12 November 2010|publisher=Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan|access-date=13 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722142449/http://www.eng.stat.kz/news/Pages/n1_12_11_10.aspx|archive-date=22 July 2011}}

Jehovah's Witnesses are also present in the country although the group faces many restrictions by the government in the past.{{cite web | url=https://www.csce.gov/articles/religious-freedom-kazakhstan-case-teymur-akhmedov/#:~:text=There%20are%2018%2C000%20Jehovah%27s%20Witnesses,in%20missionary%20activities%20without%20registration | title=Religious Freedom in Kazakhstan: The Case of Teymur Akhmedov – CSCE | date=14 September 2017 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/kazakhstan/ | title=Kazakhstan }}{{cite web | url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/05/5-years-in-prison-for-kazakh-jehovahs-witness/ | title=5 Years in Prison for Kazakh Jehovah's Witness }}{{cite web | url=https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/coe/kazakhstan-closure-of-jehovahs-witnesses-operation-is-sign-of-creeping-religious-intolerance/ | title=Kazakhstan: Closure of Jehovah's Witnesses operation is sign of creeping religious intolerance | date=18 July 2017 }}

"Kazakhstan is the strange core of traditionalist Catholicism," Catholic writer Ross Douthat stated in 2018.{{cite interview |last=Douthat |first=Ross |subject-link=Ross Douthat |interviewer=Peter Robinson |title=Uncommon Knowledge |date=2018-02-27 |url=https://www.hoover.org/research/change-church-ross-douthat |access-date=2018-04-30}}

{{main|Baháʼí Faith in Kazakhstan}}

The Baháʼí Faith in Kazakhstan began during the policy of oppression of religion in the former Soviet Union. Before that time, Kazakhstan, as part of the Russian Empire, would have had indirect contact with the Baháʼí Faith as far back as 1847.{{cite encyclopedia |first=Moojan |last=Momen |author-link=Moojan Momen |title=Russia |encyclopedia=Baháʼí Encyclopedia (draft article) |url=http://bahai-library.com/momen_encyclopedia_russia |access-date=2008-04-14 |via=Baháʼí Library Online}} Following the entrance of Baháʼí pioneers the community grew to be the largest religious community after Islam and Christianity, though only a few percent of the nation.{{cite web

|author = Government of Kazakhstan

|title = Religious Groups in Kazakhstan

|work = 2001 Census

|publisher = Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA & Canada

|year = 2001

|url = http://www.kazakhembus.com/files/Religious_Groups_in_Kazakhstan.htm

|access-date = 2008-05-21

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061031175723/http://www.kazakhembus.com/files/Religious_Groups_in_Kazakhstan.htm

|archive-date = 2006-10-31

}} By 1994 the National Spiritual Assembly of Kazakhstan was elected[http://bahai-library.com/handscause_statistics_1953-63&chapter=1#22 The Bahá'í Faith: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Baháʼí Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963], Compiled by Hands of the Cause Residing in the Holy Land, pages 22 and 46. and the community has begun to multiply its efforts across various interests. The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 7,000 Baháʼís in 2010.{{cite web |title=QuickLists: Most Baha'i (sic) Nations (2010) |work=Association of Religion Data Archives |year=2010 |url=https://www.thearda.com/QL2010/QuickList_40.asp |access-date=2020-10-20}}

{{main|Kazakh Jews}}

File:Stamp of Kazakhstan 565.jpg

Kazakh Jews have a long history. There are approximately 2,500-3,300 Jews in Kazakhstan, less than 1% of the population. Most Kazakh Jews are Ashkenazi and speak Russian.{{Cite web |title=Kazakhstan - World Jewish Congress |url=https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/about/communities/KZ |website=World Jewish Congress |access-date=April 10, 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Kazakhstan Virtual Jewish History Tour |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/kazakhstan-virtual-jewish-history-tour |website=Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=April 10, 2024}}

{{main|Buddhism in Central Asia}}

Buddhism has existed in Kazakhstan since the 17th century, which is evidenced by the ancient pagodas and temples discovered by scientists during excavations. At present, there are only two officially registered Buddhist organisations in Kazakhstan, one belongs to Won Buddhism that originated from Korea and the other organization belongs to Tibetan Buddhism.{{cite web|url=https://cabar.asia/en/kazakhstanis-in-search-of-nirvana-how-buddhism-came-to-kazakhstan|title=Kazakhstanis in Search of Nirvana: How Buddhism Came to Kazakhstan|publisher=cabar.asia|date=2019-01-14|accessdate=2021-08-30}}

According to the 2009 Census, there were 14,663 Buddhists in Kazakhstan. Also, according to from general Population census results of the Kazakhstan 2021, there are around 15,458 Buddhists in the country

{{main|Hinduism in Kazakhstan}}

Hindus in Kazakhstan are mainly composed of the ISKCON sect and Diaspora Hindus from India.

There were about 801 Hindus in Kazakhstan in 2010 according to ARDA.{{cite web| title = Most Hindu Nations (2010) | work = QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions > |publisher = The Association of Religion Data Archives| year = 2010| url =http://www.thearda.com/QL2010/QuickList_44.asp | access-date = February 20, 2022}}

• Slavic Neopaganism

{{main article|Tengrism}}

Tengrism is a Central Asian religion characterized by shamanism, animism, totemism, poly- and monotheism and ancestor worship. It was the prevailing religion of the Turks, Mongols, Hungarians, Xiongnu and Huns, and the religion of the five ancient Turkic states: Göktürk Khaganate, Western Turkic Khaganate, Great Bulgaria, Bulgarian Empire and Eastern Tourkia (Khazaria). In Irk Bitig, Tengri is mentioned as Türük Tängrisi (God of Turks).

Tengrists view their existence as sustained by the eternal blue sky (Tengri), the fertile mother-earth spirit (Umay) and a ruler regarded as the holy spirit of the sky. Heaven, earth, spirits of nature and ancestors provide for every need and protect all humans. By living an upright, respectful life, a human will keep his world in balance and perfect his personal Wind Horse, or spirit. The Huns of the northern Caucasus reportedly believed in two gods: Tangri Han (or Tengri Khan), considered identical to the Persian Aspandiat and for whom horses were sacrificed, and Kuar (whose victims are struck by lightning). Tengrism is practiced in Kazakhstan, Sakha, Buryatia, Tuva and Mongolia in parallel with Tibetan Buddhism and Burkhanism.

{{main|Freedom of religion in Kazakhstan}}

{{main|Irreligion in Kazakhstan}}

Kazakhstan has a very diverse and stable religious background. However, some reported occurrences of persecution against Hare Krishnas and Jehovah's Witnesses for proselytizing have raised concern in the international community.{{cite web|url=https://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=939|title=KAZAKHSTAN: Officially-inspired intolerance of religious freedom steps up |last=Corley|first=Felix|date=2007-04-03|publisher=Forum 18|access-date=2009-06-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=895|title=KAZAKHSTAN: More Hare Krishna home demolitions planned?|last=Corley|first=Felix|date=2006-12-06|publisher=Forum 18|access-date=2009-06-05}}[http://www.palaceofthesoul.com/news/index.php?article_id=38 Palace of the Soul: Project Updates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320021128/http://www.palaceofthesoul.com/news/index.php?article_id=38 |date=2008-03-20 }}

Article 22 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan states that "everyone has the right to a freedom of conscience.” On May 18, 2011, the President of Kazakhstan adopted a decree establishing the Agency for Religious Affairs. The mission of the Agency is to coordinate interaction between the government, religious groups and civil society in order to ensure religious freedom in Kazakhstan.{{cite web|title=Religious Affairs Agency Works to Protect Freedoms, Stop Extremist Ideologies|url=http://astanatimes.com/2013/07/religious-affairs-agency-works-to-protect-freedoms-stop-extremist-ideologies/|website=astanatimes.com|date=10 July 2013}}

In 2003 Kazakhstan established Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, that aims to facilitate religious dialogue ensuring inter-religious tolerance, and freedom in Kazakhstan.{{cite web|title=Historic Potential of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions|url=http://astanatimes.com/2013/09/historic-potential-of-the-congress-of-leaders-of-world-and-traditional-religions/|website=astanatimes.com|date=25 September 2013}}

In 2023, the country was scored 1 out of 4 for religious freedom.[https://freedomhouse.org/country/kazakhstan/freedom-world/2023 Freedom House website, 2023-08-08] It was noted that legal amendments in 2022 placed extra restrictions on citizens.

As of the 2021 census:

According to the 2009 Census data, most of the Central Asian Turkics are Muslims and Slavs are Orthodox (although more than 1% of Russians are Muslim), while Koreans are mixed between various different faiths including Christianity, Buddhism, Atheism, and Islam :{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.kz/p_perepis/Documents/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%86%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2.rar |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511000000/http://www.stat.kz/p_perepis/Documents/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%86%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2.rar |archive-date=May 11, 2011 }}

• Demographics of Kazakhstan

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Religion In Kazakhstan}}