On April 21, the government in Kazakhstan brought charges against the Salem Church in the capital city of Atyrau, in Atyrau province, for holding "illegal" meetings under Article 374, part 1, of the Administrative Code, which punishes unregistered church activity. According to Forum 18 News, "The charges are a response to a group of Russian-speaking church members meeting regularly in a private home instead of the church's registered address. The church's leader, however, stated that the Administrative Code allows such groups to meet in a member's private home, so long as important religious ceremonies-such as baptisms and weddings-are not conducted."
Meanwhile, local authorities have asked the New Life Church, also in Atyrau city, to re-register since their old registration did not indicate a legal address. Forum 18 reports, "Since the church does not currently have a building, re-registering will be difficult as Kazakhstan's amended Religion Law demands that a church indicate a legal address. Church members fear they will be subject to penalty because authorities will now consider their church activity 'illegal.'"
Source: Voice of the Martyrs
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