The State Policy on Religion in Kyrgyzstan: Between Liberal Approach and Securitization

Abstract

Until recently, authorities of Kyrgyzstan have applied a liberal approach in the religious field, by allowing actors in this field to freely disseminate their ideas and enlarge their lines. However, the decision of the Defense Council of Kyrgyzstan from February 3, 2014 allows the governmental structures to interfere and regulate directly activities of religious organizations and individuals represented in the country by defining their scope of activities and supporting particular groups in accordance with the policies of State Commission on Religious Affairs (SCRA) and new Concept on State Policy in the Sphere of Religion. Present research attempts to analyze the process of change from liberal approach in policies to state regulation of the religious sphere. According to the SCRA this radical change in religious policy was motivated by failed approach of distancing governmental bodies from regulating ongoing processes in religious field and growing threat of radical and extremist religious organizations in the country and in the world. This research argues that the policy of regulation was developing starting from the beginning of 2000s and last decision of the Defense Council was only result of long process. So, after long period of liberal approach and existing pluralistic nature of religious groups, which co-existed peacefully for more than 20 years authorities will attempt to regulate religious field