Kazakhstan's proposed new religion law is likely to be approved by the upper house of the Kazakh parliament on 31 January, despite objections from religious groups, human rights activists and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Keston News Service has learned. It was approved by the lower house on 17 January, and also requires the signature of the president to become law.
If adopted unamended it will allow unregistered religious groups to be banned, require all missionaries to be registered and deny legal registration to all Muslim organisations outside the framework of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan.