Religious Policy of Kazakhstan: Mechanisms for Managing the Islamic Environment amid Post-Soviet Transformation

Sholpan Zhandossova¹Natalya Seitakhmetova¹Marhabbat Nurov^2*

• ¹Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religion, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• ²Turan University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

This research investigates the transformation of Kazakhstan's religious landscape following independence from the Soviet Union, with particular emphasis on state regulatory mechanisms governing Islamic practices. The study adopts a longitudinal approach, examining the historical trajectory of Islam in Kazakhstan from its eighth-century origins through the Soviet period to contemporary developments. The methodological framework employs a mixed-methods design combining quantitative archival analysis with qualitative field research. Primary data sources include population census records, legislative documentation, and statistical data on religious institutions. These quantitative materials are supplemented by semi-structured interviews with Muslim community representatives, creating a comprehensive analytical framework that integrates contemporary community perspectives with documented historical processes. Demographic analysis utilizing census data from 1999, 2009 and 2021 reveals significant shifts in religious identification patterns. The research documents the evolution of Muslim population demographics alongside the institutional growth of religious educational establishments and mosques. Content analysis of governmental documents and mass media sources demonstrates a substantial increase in religious identification, with Muslims constituting approximately 70% of the national population by 2021. Comparative statistical analysis reveals marked institutional expansion within the Islamic religious sector. The number of spiritual organizations increased from 2,685 Islamic institutions in 2020 to 2,832 in 2024, representing sustained organizational growth. Educational institutional analysis indicates that 12 of 14 existing spiritual educational establishments focus on Islamic studies, demonstrating a pronounced orientation toward Islamic education within the national religious education system. The research identifies critical legislative developments implemented to regulate religious activities, particularly following security incidents in 2011 and 2016. These events included a suicide bombing at the National Security Committee headquarters in Aktobe and coordinated militant attacks in Aktobe, where extremists targeted arms retailers and attempted to breach National Guard facilities, resulting in 25 fatalities, including 18 attackers. These security challenges precipitated governmental adoption of legislative amendments in 2016 specifically targeting extremism and terrorism. The resulting regulatory framework imposed certain limitations on freedom of conscience in service of national security objectives, reflecting state strategic responses to emerging threats from religious extremism while attempting to maintain constitutional balance between security imperatives and religious liberty in the post-Soviet legal order.