IHF addressed Kazakhstan FM in connection with demolition of Hare Krishna houses

Vienna. June 11. Kazakhstan Today - The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) addressed the Kazakhstan vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, the acting Chairman of Kazakhstan in OSCE Kayrat Abdrakhmanov in connection with demolition of the constructions of the Society for Krishna Consciousness near Almaty, the agency reports.

In the letter the IHF Executive Director Aaron Rhodes addresses K. Abdrakhmanov "to draw his attention to the matter of the Society for Krishna Consciousness in Karasay district of Almaty oblast."

"On June 6 2007, the akim of Karasay district handed a notification to the Society for Krishna Consciousness stating "illegally constructed buildings situated on this land including the temple of the Society for Krishna Consciousness and the cowshed be demolished in 10 days. "The officials of Kazakhstan made declarations that the conflict around the Hare Krishna will be resolved by giving the community an alternative piece of land. However no piece of land has been given so far," the document states.

"Besides, in view of infringements of the international standards of due process during many courts against members of the Society for Krishna Consciousness including the consideration of the case mentioned above in the Supreme Court, and the proceeding from the fact that the dispute, as a whole, is obviously based on discrimination attitude of the local authorities towards this religious minority, we urgently call you to guarantee fair and open revision of all proceedings, concerning property, resettlement and privatization," the letter emphasizes.

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