Faith under fire? Kazakhstan to punish religious propaganda on social media

Pseudo-religious figures on social media are undermining national values and threatening social stability, Kazakh lawmaker Yermurat Bapi has warned in a parliamentary inquiry addressed to the prosecutor general of Kazakhstan.

Concerns over online religious content

Bapi said cases of propaganda linked to what he described as destructive religious movements are becoming more frequent.

He cited a recent online podcast in which a man, not affiliated with official religious institutions and identifying himself as an imam, claimed to have multiple wives and said he had «given» one of them to a student.

According to Bapi, such statements can negatively influence young people and shape harmful attitudes.

Read also: Scammers posing as psychics infiltrated the state, Kazakh lawmaker warns.

He described the trend as a form of «information terrorism,» referring to what he called the aggressive spread of distorted values and the erosion of public consciousness.

Call for stronger response

The lawmaker urged the Spiritual Administration of Kazakhstan’s Muslims to take a more active role in addressing such incidents and countering their influence.

Parliament backs restrictions on extremist materials

Separately, lawmakers in the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, supported a draft law that would ban the possession of extremist literature.

MP Bolat Kerimbek said the measure would not involve routine inspections of private homes.

He said authorities would only take action in specific cases, such as when prohibited materials are discovered or when there is a court order.