Kazakhstan Moves Toward Controversial LGBT 'Propaganda' Ban

Kazakhstan is on the brink of banning the dissemination of LGBT 'propaganda' online and in media. Proposed amendments have been moved forward by a parliamentary group, with penalties including imprisonment. Critics argue that the law fosters discrimination, while supporters claim it defends societal values.

Kazakhstan has taken a significant step toward prohibiting what it defines as LGBT 'propaganda' in digital and print media. Proposed legislative amendments, developed by a parliamentary working group, introduce up to 10 days of imprisonment for repeated violations. This move mirrors laws seen in former Soviet states including Russia.

The proposed amendments are expected to pass once presented for a full parliamentary vote, as the body remains largely supportive of the current Kazakh leadership. Tatiana Chernobyl, an independent human rights adviser, expressed concern to Reuters, describing the amendments as 'legitimised discrimination' targeting sexual orientation and gender identity.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a proponent of 'traditional values', must sign the amendments to enact them into law. Although Kazakhstan legalized homosexuality in the 1990s, the societal attitude remains deeply conservative. Lawmaker Nurlan Auyesbaev cites LGBT advocacy as a threat to societal and national stability, a sentiment similarly legislated in Russia, Georgia, and Hungary.

(With inputs from agencies.)