Central Asia: Balancing National Security with the Freedom of Religion

Sher-Dor Madrasa in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Since September 11, 2001 all five Central Asian countries have enacted legislation restricting religious freedoms in an attempt to curb the rise of radical Islamic terrorism. The new laws have had a damaging effect on the free practice of religion. …

Water Scarcity in Central Asia May Lead to Conflict

The Amu Darya or Oxus River seen from Uzbekistan looking towards Turkmenistan.

Water scarcity is a looming problem throughout the world, particularly affecting developing nations such as the Central Asian states. Approximately 884 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and the number of people affected by severe water …

Made in Kazakhstan: Migrant Child Labor in Kazakhstan’s Tobacco Fields

Child worker in one of Kazakhstan’s tobacco fields. Photo credit: Filip Spagnoli

Despite national and international laws prohibiting children from working in tobacco fields, many migrant youth in Kazakhstan reportedly spend up to thirteen hours per day harvesting Philip Morris Kazakhstan’s (PMK) tobacco leaves during the hottest months of the year. Most …

Kazakhstan: Human Rights Defender Faces Unfair Trial

By Annamaria Racota

On September 3, 2009 a Kazakh court found Evgeniy Zhovtis guilty of manslaughter and sentenced him to four years in prison for a car accident that killed a young man. On appeal, the court upheld the sentence …