Dini Araştırmalar (Religious Studies)

Abstract

By the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kyrgyz Republic became an independent state in 1991, and its Constitution defines form of the government as a democratic republic with substantial civil rights for its citizens. The Constitution upholds it as a secular state and the government does not support just one religion instead of others. The Constitution and the law provide freedom of religion and the right of all citizens to choose and practice their own religions. Inpractice, the government generally respects this right. Islam is the single most widely practiced faith in Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile there are other religious groups and activities as Russian Orthodox churches, different Christian denominations, Jews and Buddhists. Also there are examples of syncretistic religious practices and a number of missionary groups, including groups from the United States, different European countries, and Korea operating freely in the country. In March 1996, the government founded a State Commission on Religious Affairs. So that, this commission was created officially in order to promote religious tolerance, to protect freedom of conscience and to oversee laws on religion. This article attempts to point to the constitution and the laws which provide freedom of religion and of missionary activities operating in Kyrgyzstan, from a global point of view