47Kazakhstan

Like many other countries in Central Asia, Kazakhstan creates many challenges for believers. Religious freedom in the country has been under constant threat since legislation was introduced in 2011 that gave the government significant control over religion. For Christians, this means increased surveillance, raids on meetings, arrests and imprisonment.

Any church outside of the Russian Orthodox Church (mostly tolerated as long as it doesn’t try to share the Gospel with Muslims) is in constant danger of intense monitoring and crackdowns from the state authorities.

Converts from Islam suffer the harshest persecution. They can be locked up by their families, beaten and eventually kicked out of their communities, leaving them without resources or relationships. Local religious leaders also preach against converts.

Christians across Kazakhstan also report discrimination and difficulty in earning a living. In some parts of the country, certain Christian businesses are expected to pay bribes to stay open. This extortion drives some business owners to keep their faith a secret. Some believers also lose their jobs, particularly if they’re church leaders.

Meet Samil

“It’s very difficult for me to endure the persecution within the family. But over the years, God has done so much, I’ve seen so many miracles from God.”

Samil (name changed), a Christian from Central Asia.

What does Open Doors do to help?

Open Doors strengthens persecuted Christians in Central Asia by providing Bibles and Christian literature, discipleship, vocational training, medical and social care, socio-economic development projects, and children’s, youth and women’s ministries.