OSCE/ODIHR disappointed about hasty adoption of Kazakh law on freedom of religion

WARSAW, 26 November 2008 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said it was disappointed about the adoption earlier today by the Kazakh parliament of a new law on freedom of religion or belief, and expressed its hope that the President of Kazakhstan will not sign the law in its current form so that it can be revised in order to better reflect international standards.

The law was passed a day after an ODIHR expert team agreed with the Justice Ministry's Committee on Religious Affairs in Astana to prepare a review of the amended draft of the law. At the request of the Kazakh authorities, ODIHR had already provided a legal opinion on an earlier version of the draft law.

"It is disappointing that the law was adopted in such a hasty way without making full use of broad consultations with civil society and expertise from the international community," said Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, ODIHR's Director.

"We hope the President of Kazakhstan will use his constitutional power to allow for a more transparent and inclusive law-making process that would lead to the adoption of legislation fully reflecting OSCE commitments and other international standards."

The ODIHR Director said that this would send a positive signal in view of Kazakhstan's Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010, as it would testify the country's commitment to international standards and respect for the principles of transparency and inclusiveness in the way the law is developed and adopted.