The public association "Bir Duyno Kyrgyzstan" is concerned about the risk of violating citizens' constitutional rights that may arise from the discussion of a draft law regulating religious education abroad.
According to the organization, on February 23, 2026, a draft law was presented in the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, proposing amendments to several existing legislative acts related to the religious sphere. The changes affect the Code on Children, the Code on Offenses, as well as the laws "On External Migration," "On Education," and "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations."
The draft law plans to introduce a complete ban on the departure of citizens of Kyrgyzstan under the age of 18 from the country for the purpose of obtaining religious education. Additionally, it proposes to establish responsibility for parents and other individuals who facilitate such departures.
In particular, the amendments to the Code on Offenses include a new part 9 of Article 142. Under this initiative, the departure of minors for religious education abroad or facilitating such departures may result in fines of 20,000 soms for individuals and 65,000 soms for legal entities.
The justification for the document emphasizes that the draft law has been developed in the framework of fulfilling the president's directives and is aimed at protecting children's rights and ensuring national security. The authors of the draft law refer to cases of minors being sent to foreign educational institutions with destructive training, as well as the risks of involving adolescents in radical and extremist organizations.
However, human rights defenders from the public organization "Bir Duyno Kyrgyzstan" argue that the proposed measures may contradict the Constitution and restrict citizens' rights. The organization notes that the draft law does not contain clear criteria for determining foreign religious educational institutions with a "destructive nature of training." According to human rights defenders, the lack of such criteria may lead to all foreign religious educational institutions being at risk of prohibition.
The association also reminds that the Constitution guarantees everyone the right to profess any religion or not to profess any, as well as to freely choose and hold religious beliefs. They believe that the realization of these rights implies the possibility of studying religious teachings and accessing relevant information.
Furthermore, the restrictions may affect citizens' right to education and freedom of learning, as well as the right to freely leave the country.
In light of the above, the public organization "Bir Duyno Kyrgyzstan" calls on the initiators of the draft law to withdraw the document to avoid potential violations of citizens' constitutional rights. An analytical note is attached to the statement.
