Kazakhstan court upholds right to peaceful religious sharing for Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Atyrau Regional Court in Kazakhstan ruled on 6 August 2026 in favor of Nurai Karamanova, a Jehovah’s Witnesses member. The court affirmed that sharing one’s faith peacefully is not a crime, thereby upholding the right to freedom of speech and religion in the country.

In April 2026, Nurai was preaching when a local resident reported her to the police. The police arrived at her workplace and detained her for three hours. She was accused of being annoying and fined. A month later, in May 2026, Nurai was preaching with another Jehovah’s Witnesses member when four policemen detained them and took them to the police station.

In June 2026, two courts overturned the harassment charges against Nurai. However, they did not address whether she had been lawfully detained by the police. Nurai then filed a complaint with a higher court, which led to the Atyrau Regional Court’s decision on 6 August 2026. The court declared the police actions unlawful.

Nurai expressed gratitude for the court’s recognition that sharing her beliefs with others is a fundamental part of her faith. She stated, “Telling others about Jehovah and his purpose is an important part of my faith. I am grateful to the courts that have acknowledged that I have done nothing wrong by sharing my beliefs with people.”

Over the past five years, more than 80 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazakhstan have faced legal action for sharing their beliefs. Nurai’s case is notable as the first known instance in the country where authorities detained Jehovah’s Witnesses overnight for participating in preaching activities.

This ruling is seen as a significant step in protecting the rights of religious believers in Kazakhstan. The decision aligns with the principles of freedom of speech and religion, which are foundational to many societies. As the Bible states in Acts 5:42, “And they did not cease preaching the word of God, and they continued to teach and proclaim the good news.” This case reflects the ongoing efforts of Jehovah’s Witnesses to share their faith within the bounds of the law.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Russian)