TREATMENT OF HINDUS IN KAZAKHSTAN

That this House, prior to the visit of the President of Kazakhstan, condemns the harassment of and discrimination against Hindu minorities in Kazakhstan; notes that Hindus in the Karasi district have had land, barns and cows confiscated, been threatened with demolition of their houses, and been denied the right to own land; further notes that Kazakh Hindus who applied for ownership of their houses were asked to declare that they were not Hindus, while non-Hindus who made similar applications were immediately granted ownership rights; acknowledges that the Supreme Court reviewed two cases regarding Hindu cottages and ruled against the Hindus without inviting the plaintiffs to the hearings; recognises that the Kazakh government announced a Commission into the issues of Kazakh Hindus; further notes that the Commission has no powers to reverse decisions of the Supreme Court; calls for the President to intervene to stop action to demolish houses belonging to the followers of Hare Krishna, facilitate legal registration of properties owned by Hindus, allow Hindus to occupy their homes and worship freely, order the General Prosecutor's office to condemn the Supreme Court decisions as having been taken without legal representation of Kazakh Hindus and to review decisions made against Hindus in the court of second instance; and further calls upon the President to order the Karasai District Hakimat to have all cases against the Kazakh Hindus withdrawn, clarify the role of the Commission, which seems unable to make a fair and just inquiry and to stop harassment of Hindus in Kazakhstan.