The State Commission for Religious Affairs of Kyrgyzstan has offered amendments to the country’s laws on members of parliament and political parties.    

The draft amendments offered to the mentioned law are posted on koomtalkuu.kg portal for public discussion.  

Kloop.kg says amendments offered to the law on political parties, in particular, proposes to ban creation and functioning of political parties of foreign countries and their subdivision in the territory of the country, and creation of religion-based political parties as well as political of all political parties active in the country in religious activities.  

It is also proposed to ban use of any information or images on religious topics in names of political parties and during campaigning.

Besides, the Commission for Religious Affairs proposes to impose a ban on financing by subjects of religious activity of the activities of political parties.  

The Commission for Religious Affairs also proposes to ban members of Jogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyzstan’s parliament) and local legislatures to combine parliamentary powers with religious activities.  In addition, it proposes to prohibit the election of religious figures as members of Jogorku Kenesh and local legislatures.

The State Commission for Religious Affairs under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic is the central body of Kyrgyzstan that works to formulate and implement state policy in the sphere of religion and coordinates the activities of state bodies of Kyrgyzstan in the field of religion.