Mounting persecution in Kazakhstan – believers need your prayers

Recent reports give a sobering window into the harshening reality of persecution for believers in Kazakhstan. Churches have been raided, pastors bribed to spy on their congregations and young women abused in their homes – please pray for our brothers and sisters.

Whilst Kazakhstan stands at number 45 on the World Watch List, persecution is a daily reality for our church family there. The latest reports demonstrate that it is only getting worse and affecting more believers in their family life and as they try to gather. 

Churches under pressure 

At the end of last year, several cases arose revealing the increasing pressure on churches and their leaders by government authorities. In one situation, Pastor Ruslan was repeatedly asked to spy on his own congregation. The secret police have even attempted to convince his wife that he is unfaithful and a spy through fabricated messages. Wonderfully, both Ruslan and his wife have seen through such falsehood and continue to stand firm in their ministry. 

In Kazakhstan, the Religion Law allows only state-registered groups to hold meetings at approved locations. Pressure is mounting on communities to conform, as it will grant the government tighter control on religious activities. The end of 2025 saw a series of brutal raids on churches across the nation to shut down unregistered gatherings.  

Moreover, discussions within government continue with the aim of harshening regulations. In 2025, President Tokayev supported such interests, stating, “Freedom of religion is guaranteed in Kazakhstan, but disorder and permissiveness are unacceptable. Destructive movements and ideologies alien to our culture must certainly be curbed.” According to Tokayev, “The most important mission of religion is the consolidation of the nation.”  

Recent months demonstrate the consequences for any gathering which falls outside of such parameters – the expectation for many believers is that these restrictions will only compound in severity. 

A couple detained 

In early January, a couple was arrested and interrogated. Their crime: distributing New Testaments to families at a New Year service. The celebration was hosted by a rehabilitation centre for children with special needs. At the event, the couple gave gifts to the children and New Testaments to their family. Their generosity caught the attention of one of the centre’s workers who then reported them to the police. 

The couple were later released after questioning, but the toll the stress took on their health was heavy. Later, the couple was summoned to the Committee for Religious Affairs, and the outcome of their trial is yet to be announced. 

Women persecuted in their homes 

To be a woman and a convert from Islam in Kazakhstan, and across much of Central Asia, brings with it harsh social repercussions. Three young women between the ages of 17 and 21 have recently faced such treatment. 

The first, Ainur*, found faith in Christ whilst married to a Muslim man. When her husband discovered her ‘betrayal’, he beat Ainur to the point of hospitalisation. Still, she did not renounce her faith and her husband divorced her. Ainur had to return to her family in Uzbekistan who are Muslim as well. In Islam, when a man divorces his wife, it heaps shames on the woman – Ainur’s unrelenting faith in Jesus has only hardened the hearts of her family against her and she is now considered an outcast amongst her own. 

Kumysh* is a young woman who joyfully told her parents of her newfound life in Jesus. The reaction was immediate and scathing – her father yelled and swore at her, forbidding her to speak of Christ and attend church services. He has even installed an app on her phone to always track her location and has threatened to fabricate a criminal case against Kumysh’s church if she continues to meet with other believers. 

Madina* too comes from a Muslim home. When her parents found out about her faith, they launched a verbal assault against members of her church, threatening mob attacks should Madina attend any services. 

Each one of our sisters cannot enjoy fellowship and encouragement from other believers at this time of intensifying hostility. Please pray for them. 

A pastor’s prayer 

A message has come from a pastor in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. He leads a church which, in recent months, has been under the onslaught of locals threatening lawsuits for their activities. And yet, the church does not ask for prayers to be freed from such opposition. 

“We have the vision that we want to serve the community and have already carried out medical and educational programmes in the village,” the pastor says. “Since there was no water in the village, we built a water tower, and it served the village for 15 years. Everyone knows that we are believers in Jesus Christ, and we want to continue to serve the community. 

“We ask you to pray that through these cases people will hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Secondly, so that through these attacks we become stronger in our faith. Thirdly, that their judgments against us may be decided by the grace of our God.” 

Your prayers and support mean so much to those counting the cost for following Jesus. Please continue to stand with them. 

*Names changed for security reasons