State Commission on Religious Affairs

State Commission on Religious Affairs

Agency overview
Formed	4 March 1996 (1996-03-04)
Agency executive	Director
Parent agency	Office of the President
Website	http://religion.gov.kg/en

The State Commission on Religious Affairs (SCRA), officially known as the State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic (SCRA KR), is the central governing body of the Republic of Kazakhstan responsible for coordinating state religious affairs. Established as an independent entity in 1966, it has undergone several restructurings, including a significant reorganization by a presidential decree on 20 January 2012, which aligned it as a subordinate state agency under the direct authority of the president. The commission is headed by a director who reports directly to the president.

History

The SCRA was established on 4 March 1996, through presidential decree No. 45, titled On Structure and Composition of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. Initially, it functioned as an independent executive body under the Kyrgyz government.

On 11 November 2005, presidential decree No. 533 introduced changes to the structure of government agencies, leading to the reorganization of the state commission into the State Agency for Religious Affairs under the Kyrgyz government.

As part of a broader public administration reform, the state agency was removed from the executive branch on 26 October 2009 and restructured into the State Commission for Religious Affairs through presidential decree No. 425. This reform made the commission directly accountable to the president of Kyrgyzstan. Later on 21 January 2011, a presidential decree No. 15, titled On Transferring Certain State Bodies to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, transferred the commission back to the government. However, on 20 January 2012, presidential decree UP No. 9 reversed this decision, placing the commission under the authority of the president.

Role in legislation

The SCRA plays a central role in formulating and implementing legislation governing religious organisations and practices in Kyrgyzstan. Working alongside other state bodies, such as the National Security Committee and the Interior Ministry, the SCRA is accused of drafting laws and policies criticized for imposing restrictions and increasing oversight on religious activities. A 2024 report by Forum 18, a Norwegian human rights organization, alleged that these policies limit religious freedoms in the country.

Functions

The SCRA regulates religious organizations and activities in the country. It is responsible for overseeing the registration of religious groups and religiously affiliated schools in compliance with the country's laws governing religion. Religious organizations, including foreign entities operating in Kyrgyzstan, are required to register with the SCRA to operate legally, with foreign organizations needing to renew their registration annually.

The agency has the authority to deny registration to groups that fail to meet legal requirements or are deemed threats to national security, social cohesion, or public order. It is also entitled to reject applications if the activities of the group are determined not to be religious in nature. It also scrutinizes unregistered religious groups, which are prohibited from renting space, holding services, or conducting other activities.

It holds the authority to ban religious organizations if the judiciary determine they pose a threat to state security. It is also responsible for the oversight of private religious schools, requiring them to register for legal operation. Also, the agency monitors public educational materials on religion to verify that they do not advocate for any particular religious doctrine.

Organizational structure

The agency operates under the constitutional authority of the president. Its leadership consists of a director and a deputy director. Kanatbek Midin uuly currently serves as the deputy director. As of September 2024, Torgonbay Abdykarov is recorded as the last known director. The identity of the current director remains either unconfirmed or undocumented.

Dismissal of the director

The director of the State Commission on Religious Affairs is usually dismissed by a formal decree issued by the president, in accordance with Article 71 of the constitution. This article grants the president the authority to remove high-ranking officials, including the director. This process typically follows the submission of a resignation letter by the director or other grounds as specified by the relevant authorities.

Criticism

The SCRA has been criticised for its alleged non-compliance to register Jehovah's Witnesses congregations in southern Kyrgyzstan, despite a court ruling that nullified a law requiring religious groups to register with local councils. This refusal persisted with the last denial occurring in November 2022. The SCRA reportedly blocked the importation of religious texts by Jehovah's Witnesses in the same year.

The U.S. Department of State, in its 2012 annual report, criticised the SCRA's actions, including its role in restricting religious freedoms and the activities of religious minorities. The report noted that the SCRA has not adequately addressed instances of alleged harassment against religious groups.

As of April 2023, the SCRA reported that there were 3,385 officially registered religious organizations in the country. Among these, 2,960 were Sunni Muslim groups, with only one Shi'a Muslim organization. The remaining 425 organizations were predominantly Christian, including a large number of Orthodox Christian groups, along with smaller communities from other religious traditions. The exact number of groups that sought but were denied registration is unclear; however, the government has reportedly refused to recognize Ahmadiyya Muslims, Tengrinists, and Hare Krishna practitioners as legitimate religious organizations.