Source: https://wwrn.org/articles/45105/
Timestamp: 2019-08-22 00:12:54
Document Index: 223044208

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Kazakhstan: Secret police-inspired criminal prosecutions | WWRN - World-wide Religious News
Felix Corley ("Forum 18 News Service," October 13, 2015)
Seventh-day Adventist Yklas Kabduakasov – whose criminal trial in Kazakhstan's capital Astana resumes tomorrow afternoon (14 October) – faces between five and ten years in prison if convicted on charges of spreading "religious discord" when discussing his faith with and offering Christian books to others. He and fellow church members insist he is innocent of the charges.
The National Security Committee (KNB) secret police had been closely monitoring Kabduakasov for a year before they arrested him in August 2015, appear to have rented the flat to which four students invited him for religious discussions, appear to have organised the secret filming of the meetings with at least two hidden cameras, and prepared the prosecution case.
Tabligh Jamaat was banned as "extremist" in Kazakhstan by a court in the capital Astana in February 2013. Sharing some of its teachings or habits, possessing religious books often used in the movement or meeting with others close to the movement is enough for a criminal prosecution.
Orazbek Apakashev, sentenced in the northern Karaganda Region to three years' imprisonment on 29 September for alleged involvement in Tabligh Jamaat, remains in Karaganda's KNB secret police Investigation Prison. His lawyer lodged his appeal against the sentence on 13 October (see below).
These are among 15 alleged members of Tabligh Jamaat known to have been convicted and given criminal sentences since December 2014. A further five are in prison awaiting criminal trial (see lists below).
The KNB secret police arrested Adventist Kabduakasov in Astana on 14 August and transferred him to the city's KNB secret police Investigation Prison. A court then ordered him held in two-month pre-trial detention. Christian books were seized from his home, while the Adventist Church he attends in Astana was also searched.
After Belesov completed the case, the KNB handed it to Astana City Prosecutor's Office, which assigned it to Asylzhan Gabdykaparov. The case was handed to Astana's Saryarka District Court No. 2
The prosecution also claims that Kabduakasov had made similar insults in meetings with a group of students in a flat. "This was not a church-owned flat – it was a flat one of the students claimed to have rented and Kabduakasov and another church member went about ten times at the students' invitation between November 2014 and July 2015," the church member told Forum 18. "At the flat Yklas played the dombra [a stringed instrument] and sang, and answered questions about his faith. There was no incitement and no pressure."
After his August arrest, Kabduakasov was first held for ten days in isolation, then held in a three-person cell with two Muslims, described by his friends as "Wahhabis" (a common term in Central Asia for traditional Muslims). At the request of the two Muslims he was then transferred to another cell, where his other two prisoners appear to be Slavs. One of them has a Bible to which Kabduakasov has access, his friends told Forum 18.
On 13 October, Tolegen Amerbekov, the lawyer for imprisoned Muslim Apakashev, lodged an appeal against his sentence of three years' imprisonment for alleged involvement in Tabligh Jamaat. The appeal was lodged to Temirtau City Court, the assistant to Judge Natalya Shchegletova – who handed down the original sentence – told Forum 18 from the court on 13 October. The appeal will be handed on to Karaganda Regional Court.
Judge Shchegletova had convicted Apakashev on 29 September on charges of participation in a banned religious organisation.
At least four months' secret police detention
Apakashev – who was arrested by the KNB secret police more than four months ago – is still being held in the KNB secret police Investigation Prison in the regional capital Karaganda, the prison head (who did not give his name) told Forum 18 from the city on 13 October. However, he refused to give any other information about Apakashev, including about whether he is alive or not, his health or whether he has access to religious literature if he would like it.
During the court case, Koyshybai was also required to give evidence in the criminal prosecution of another alleged Tabligh Jamaat member Saken Tulbayev at his trial in Almaty.
2. Bakyt Nurmanbetov; 14 January 2015 Taldykorgan City Court, Almaty Region; Article 337-1, Part 2 of old Criminal Code (equivalent of Article 405 of current Criminal Code); 20 months' imprisonment.
3. Aykhan Kurmangaliyev; 14 January 2015 Taldykorgan City Court, Almaty Region; Article 337-1, Part 2 of old Criminal Code (equivalent of Article 405 of current Criminal Code); 20 months' imprisonment.
4. Sagyndyk Tatubayev; 14 January 2015 Taldykorgan City Court, Almaty Region; Article 337-1, Part 2 of old Criminal Code (equivalent of Article 405 of current Criminal Code); 20 months' imprisonment.
5. Kairat Esmukhambetov; 14 January 2015 Taldykorgan City Court, Almaty Region; Article 337-1, Part 2 of old Criminal Code (equivalent of Article 405 of current Criminal Code); 20 months' imprisonment.
6. Ruslan Kairanov; 14 January 2015 Taldykorgan City Court, Almaty Region; Article 337-1, Part 2 of old Criminal Code (equivalent of Article 405 of current Criminal Code); 18 months' imprisonment.
1. Umarbekov (first name unknown); 25 September 2015 Astana's Saryarka District Court No. 2; Article 405, Part 1; 2 months' detention.
2. Khoragildinov (first name unknown); 25 September 2015 Astana's Saryarka District Court No. 2; Article 405, Part 1; 2 months' detention.
3. Khauin (first name unknown); 25 September 2015 Astana's Saryarka District Court No. 2; Article 405, Part 1; 2 months' detention.
4. Nuradilov (first name unknown); 25 September 2015 Astana's Saryarka District Court No. 2; Article 405, Part 1; 2 months' detention.
5. Gubaidulla Toleubayev; 29 September 2015 Astana's Saryarka District Court No. 2; Article 405, Part 1; 2 months' detention.