Secular principles in practice: The Kyrgyzstan model

Abstract

The Kyrgyz Republic, while officially a secular state, encounters challenges in balancing secular principles with the increasing role of religion in society. Although secularism typically requires impartiality among religions, the state showed preferential support in 2014 toward the Hanafi school of Islam and the Russian Orthodox Church. Efforts to regulate religious expression among citizens have sparked concerns about the government’s commitment to secular values, which implies the separation between state and religious institutions. Kyrgyzstan faces competing pressures: some citizens call for stricter religious regulations to safeguard national identity, while religious minorities cite violations of their rights, and international organizations push for the protection of fundamental human rights. This paper analyzes how secular principles are crafted, applied, and maintained in Kyrgyzstan, a Muslim-majority nation. It focuses on how Kyrgyz political elites manage rising religiosity, adapting strategies to maintain secular governance. The paper examines policy documents to uncover shifts in Kyrgyzstan’s approach to secularism and religion over time.