Kazakhstan Issue Update

This report provides an overview of Kazakhstan’s religion law and its recent amendments to that law, and details how authorities use this legislation to target and regulate religious groups. Amendments passed in December 2021 did not reflect Kazakhstan’s engagement with the U.S. government on religious freedom reform and failed to meaningfully improve the space for religious freedom in the country. The report concludes with policy recommendations for the U.S. government to continue to promote religious freedom in the context of its bilateral relationship with Kazakhstan, as the latter plans additional amendments to its religion law.