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“Peaceful opposition activists in Kazakhstan confront unjustified restrictions imposed by the state”, Human Rights Watch said.
According to a report issued by Human Rights Watch on 27 August 2024, which affirmed that peaceful opposition activists and others in Kazakhstan are obviously subjected to a sentence of “unjustified” financial restrictions imposed by the state, as a result of being prosecuted on vague criminal charges related to terrorism or extremism.
“Politically Targeted and Economically Isolated: How Kazakhstan terrorist financing List aggravates Human Rights violations”, that is the title of the report which considers that the financial restrictions imposed by Kazakhstan against the opposition activists violate their rights on the of economical, social, and cultural level which are internationally protected.
In addition, the report clearly contains a documentation of the persons who are on Kazakhstan’s Terrorist Financing Listed; confronting financial restrictions that cause serious difficulties, which lead to violations of their rights which are guaranteed by the International Covenant, on the level of economic, social and cultural rights; in which Kazakhstan is already a part of, including the right of a decent standard of living, as well as a good access to work, beside the social security benefits. Particularly, it is terrible when prosecutions are for alleged non-violent “extremist” or “terrorist” crimes, which should not be considered crimes.
“Kazakhstan government must immediately end its malignant use of extremism and terrorism laws against non-violent critics and others, and remove anyone currently on the terrorist financing list who has been convicted of non-violent crimes,” said Mehra Reitman, Senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch.
According to Human Rights Watch report, The Kazakh legislation does not really distinguish between “violent extremism and non-violent extremism,” as so many articles in the Criminal Code related to extremism and terrorism are vaguely and ambiguously worded.
Moreover, The Kazakh authorities have used these provisions to criminalize activities and expressions protected by International Human Rights Law.
The report clarifies that Kazakhstan adopts a strict policy regarding counterterrorism and extremism. In case any individual who is prosecuted on criminal charges that the Kazakh authorities label it as an “extremist” or a “terrorist” spontaneously and automatically added to the “List of Persons and Organizations Associated with Financing Terrorism and Extremism.” This inclusion takes place regardless of whether the individual has incited, participated in, or even financed violence.
Under Kazakhstan’s 2009 Anti-Money Laundering Law, individuals listed as financing terrorism confront severe financial consequences. They are barred from accessing their bank accounts and cannot use credit or debit cards.
Not only that but also, they are prohibited from conducting certain financial transactions through notary or post offices, significantly impacting their ability to manage their finances and daily life.
Human Rights Watch gave a number of recommendations that the Kazakh government should review its laws on extremism and terrorism, and should re-paraphrase and review the whole process by which individuals are added to the terrorist financing list, and in particular to end that automatic listing, and call for allowing freedom of self-expression and criticism over the authorities without fear of revenges, as well as allowing opposition groups to function politically.
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office defines terrorism as involving the fearing of populations or governments or enforcing them through threats or acts of violence. This can lead death, or serious injury, or hostage-taking. The Office recommends totally preventing such acts, stopping the financing of terrorist networks, and countering their movements and activities to prevent any potential human rights violations in the future.
In the same context, Amnesty International declared that the right to freedom of expression is a valuable right that must be protected from “those who fear change.”
Both of Amnesty International and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office, considered that the right to freedom of expression threats governments and powerful individuals, for this reason they usually look for a way to prevent demonstrations.
Same Justice Human Rights affirms the need to protect peaceful activists and their rights. It emphasizes on the importance of freely expression in accordance with Human Rights Law.
Same Justice Human Rights calls for not mixing the concept of “counterterrorism or extremism” with the presence of “political opposition” groups or individuals. It emphasizes that any measures taken to combat terrorism, and extremism must respect and ensure the protection of human rights.
