"Faith. Knowledge. Life."

By Staff Reporter, *Kazakh Public Religious Organization Declared Extremist* - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - Prague, Czech Republic; Friday, June 8, 2012

Kazakh Public Religious Organization Declared Extremist

Kazakh authorities have announced that the "Faith. Knowledge. Life." educational organization has been officially defined as extremist.

The decision on June 7 by a regional court in eastern Kazakhstan was made public a day later by Kazakhstan's prosecutor-general.

The organization says it promotes Sufism -- a mystical interpretation of Islam -- and denies it has anything to do with any form of extremism.

The court ruled that the organization has to be closed down and any form of membership in it is considered a crime.

In October 2011, 10 leaders and activists of "Faith. Knowledge. Life." were sentenced to prison terms between two and 14 years by a court in Almaty.