Kazakhstan has recently closed mosques, churches and prayer rooms in prisons, citing two laws restricting freedom of religion or belief. ‘Mosques and Russian Orthodox churches were built in prisons in violation of building regulations and the law. They are illegal - that's why they are being closed down.’ Kazakhstan has also started closing prayer rooms in social care institutions. ‘We're all in shock,’ Fr Vladimir Zavadich of the Orthodox Church said. ‘We didn't expect this from our government. Now we fear this will happen everywhere.’ Orthodox Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen stated that this took away ‘the last consolation from those people who, for health reasons, find themselves in a desperate, helpless situation’. He described calls to bar priests from such homes, hospices and old people's homes as ‘inhumane’.

Pray: that Christians might meet for worship without needing state permission. (Pr.21:15)

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