“It’s about institutionalising stigma, fear and censorship“
BY SCARLETT CLARKE, IMAGE BY GETTY
A new law signed in Kazakhstan bans what authorities describe as LGBTQIA+ “propaganda,” with those found in violation facing fines and detention. Human rights groups say the legislation will severely restrict freedom of expression and further marginalise LGBTQIA+ people in the country.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the bill into law on 30 December, following Senate approval on 18 December. The legislation has drawn comparisons from human rights groups and legal experts to Russia’s 2013 “LGBT propaganda” law, which has been widely criticised for restricting free expression and LGBTQIA+ visibility.
The law consists of amendments to existing legislation and has been framed by authorities as a measure to protect children from “harmful” content. It specifically targets material classified as promoting pedophilia or what it terms “non-traditional sexual orientation” – a framing human rights groups say falsely equates LGBTQIA+ identity with harm to children.
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said: “Banning so-called ‘LGBTI propaganda’ is not about protecting children, it’s about institutionalising stigma, fear and censorship.”
Under the new provisions, sharing information about “non-traditional sexual orientation,” particularly content that forms a positive or neutral societal attitude, is prohibited. The restrictions apply across public spaces, mass media, telecommunications networks and online platforms.
According to state media reporting on remarks by Vice Minister of Culture Yevgeniy Kochetov, those found in violation would face a fine and up to 10 days of administrative detention.
Speaking at a press conference in Almaty in November, activist Arj Turnsykan said the amendments could be used to punish everyday expression: “Because of these amendments, they can punish for everything: for jokes, drawings, for hugging.”
Human rights organisations previously called for the bill to be rejected during its passage through parliament. In a joint statement published on 11 November, seven international human rights groups warned the amendments would “blatantly violate” Kazakhstan’s international human rights obligations, including “children’s rights to education, health and information”.
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