Kyrgyzstan requires a certificate for religious preachers as Central Asia tightens religious regulation
People who publicly preach religion online must now obtain a special certificate; clothing and other religious-life restrictions are also expanding across neighboring states.
In Kyrgyzstan, bloggers and social-media users who publicly preach religion online must now obtain a special certificate. The requirement stems from the country's new religion law, which created the legal category of "religious preacher." It was announced on local radio by Nurgazy Kyrgyzbaev, a chief specialist at the National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations.
How the certificate works
Applicants must have higher or secondary religious education and obtain the consent of the relevant central religious authority before registering. For Muslims, this means approval from the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan, or Muftiate. Content creators then apply to the agency for an official certificate valid for one year and renewable on expiry. It can be revoked for spreading false information or breaking the law, and once revoked cannot be obtained again.
Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan the number of functioning mosques grew from 68 at independence in 1991 to 2,945 by early 2026. A law that took effect in 2025 banned the niqab, burqa and similar face-covering garments, with medical, professional, weather, sporting and cultural exceptions. Religious clothing is also prohibited in schools.
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
In Uzbekistan, appearing in public with the face covered in a way that prevents identification has been banned since November 2023, punishable by a fine of 10–15 base calculation units. In Tajikistan, 2024 amendments prohibited importing, selling, promoting and wearing clothing deemed "alien to national culture."
Kyrgyzbaev said on the radio: "People who want to publicly call others to religion must obtain a special certificate."
