Kazakhstan: Two imprisoned for Christian Literature

Sunday, November 9, 2014

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

Two men were sentenced last month after Kazakhstani authorities confiscated the Christian books they were handing out near a market in Shchuchinsk, according to Barnabas Aid.

Vyacheslav Cherkasov and Zhasulan Alzhanov were fined the equivalent of four months' wages for repeatedly distributing religious literature without the mandated permission of the state.

Among the more than 250 titles seized by Kazakhstani authorities was "Jesus: More than a Prophet" -- a collection of testimonies written by Muslims who became Christians. After an official analysis, all the confiscated literature was found to contain "elements inciting religious hatred and discord".

In Kazakhstan, many religious publications -- to include both hard copy and virtual web pages -- are being found to be "extremist" and are thereby banned by Kazakhstan's courts.