Religious sects affected more than 500 this year in Kazakhstan

This has been announced at today's press conference in Astana by a member of the service agency to interact with religious organizations under the Government of Kazakhstan, the expert of the Agency for Religious Affairs, the director of "Association of centers for victims of destructive religious organizations" Yulia Denisenko.

"Our organization has 14 centers located in all regions of the country. If these centers were addressed to by 2, 084 people in 2011, in 2012 - by 2,621 people, and this year the number has increased. Only during 1 month the number exceeds 200. Though it does not mean that all of them suffered from extremist organizations, people want to know about the religion, according to the illegal activities of sects. During the current year, the number of victims directly suffering from the activities of sects is over 500 people. Each center has got professional theologians, religious scholars, psychologists, sociologists and lawyers", she said.

According to Denisenko, the bulk of them are young people and their rehabilitation is very difficult.

"Young people from 14 to 30 years is the main goal of extremist, destructively directed organizations. Reason is that they are the most active members of society. They can for many years serve these organizations, as well as draw in new members. According to the research conducted by the European specialists the rehabilitation of such people must take more than 12 years" the expert added.

There are generally illegal 19 extremist sects in Kazakhstan. Taking this into account the employees of the centers conduct explanatory work among students. For example, during a special promotion taken place November 1-6 such type of activity was carried out with more than 500 people.