Police in the Aktobe region, western Kazakhstan, have opened a criminal case after a local resident posted a video declaring stringed instruments sinful from a religious perspective.
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In the video, the man — identified by local media as Azat Kongyz — claimed that instruments such as the dombra, guitar and balalaika are haram, or prohibited in Islam.
He said religious scholars and clerics consider even briefly listening to such music a sin.
Public reaction
The video drew widespread attention online, in part because the dombra is widely regarded as a national cultural symbol in Kazakhstan.
Law enforcement response
Officers from the regional anti-extremism unit identified and detained the man. Authorities said a criminal case has been opened on charges of inciting religious hatred.
Police said a pretrial investigation is underway to establish all circumstances of the incident and reiterated that inciting religious hatred is a criminal offense under Kazakh law.
