President Sadyr Japarov explained his decision on Facebook, stating that deeply religious citizens had requested him to reject the law, while secular citizens urged its adoption.
“Let’s not forget that there are as many secular citizens in our country as there are strictly religious ones. Secular citizens oppose strangers knocking on doors. They want answers about who these preachers are, whether they have credentials from the muftiate, kaziat, or khatibiate, what organizations or ideologies they represent, and whether those ideologies align with our religion,” Japarov said.
The president highlighted the lack of clear regulations on preaching: “There are no defined rules on who grants permission for such activities, who qualifies to participate, what education is required, or what materials can be distributed. Some citizens leave their families unattended for extended periods – three days, 40 days, or even four months. How can this be acceptable? Shouldn’t providing for one’s family take precedence over preaching?”
Japarov also expressed concern over the growing spread of radical materials and teachings in Kyrgyzstan. He emphasized the need for the muftiate and the council of ulema to establish strict guidelines for preaching activities.
The president further warned about the dangers of unregulated religious movements, citing examples of banned extremist and terrorist organizations like Hizb-ut-Tahrir, ISIS, and others. He noted that even lawful movements such as Tablighi Jamaat and Salafism are actively distributing materials, which sometimes serve as a cover for spreading harmful ideologies.
“This is a dangerous trend threatening our future. In some Muslim countries, like Syria, internal conflicts among religious groups have led to massive bloodshed. We must prevent such divisions in Kyrgyzstan,” he said.
Japarov called on the muftiate and religious scholars to draft comprehensive rules for preaching activities and pledged government support for their enforcement. “The sooner you present these proposals, the better. Let’s set Kyrgyzstan on the right path and secure a strong foundation for its future,” he concluded.
