Kyrgyzstan Registers 4,363 Religious Organizations Amid Debate on New Religion Law
Kyrgyzstan is home to 4,363 registered religious organizations, including 3,966 Islamic and 391 Christian groups, along with several Buddhist, Jewish, and Bahá'í communities, according to data discussed during a meeting between the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and Kyrgyzstan’s Ombudsman Jamila Zhamanbayeva.
The meeting focused on the implementation of a new law on religious freedom that took effect on February 1, 2025. USCIRF Chair Vicki Hartzler raised concerns that the law may limit the operations of smaller religious groups, as it now requires at least 500 members to register.
Zhamanbayeva emphasized that freedom of belief and equality before the law are key principles of Kyrgyzstan’s human rights policy. She cited recent complaints received by the Ombudsman Institute, including cases where detainees and psychiatric patients were denied the right to perform religious rituals. The institute’s intervention led to the resolution of these issues.
USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood warned that some religious schools may spread extremist ideologies. In response, Zhamanbayeva announced that religious boarding schools will undergo monitoring this year.
