From May 28–29, 2024, the city of Shymkent hosted a landmark event for Kazakhstan’s governance and security landscape: the country’s first accredited Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) training for law enforcement officials.
Organized by LYNC – Love Your Neighbor Community, represented by CEO Wade Kusack, the training was held in collaboration with Caspian University, represented by Rector Zholdasbek Nussenov. The program was supported by Institut Leimena (Indonesia), represented by Matius Ho and Rector Prof. Dr. H. Lukman S. Thahir, M.Ag, with funding from the Templeton Religion Trust. The program marked a significant advancement in equipping government actors to address religious freedom and social cohesion through the lens of Covenantal Pluralism.
A curated program focused on security, religion, and public policy
This wasn’t just another training. It was a carefully curated program designed to foster a deeper understanding of religious freedom, multi-faith engagement, and social cohesion—particularly within the complex intersection of religion, security, history, and public policy.
Twenty-one participants—high-ranking representatives from multiple branches of Kazakhstan’s legal and governmental institutions—gathered for two intensive days of learning, dialogue, and trust-building.
National-level participation underscored the initiative’s significance
The participation of key institutions underscored the national significance of the initiative.
The Committee for Religious Affairs of Kazakhstan not only endorsed the program, but also sent its Chair, Mr. Anuar Khatiev, from Astana and Mr. Bakhtiyar Unerbaev, head of the Shymkent religious affairs office.
The Ministry of Justice delegated a senior legal expert to contribute to the legislative perspective. The Ministry of Internal Affairs ensured the presence of officers from the regional police department.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan was well represented, sending senior staff and regional prosecutors from Shymkent, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, and Turkestan regions—where religious and cultural dynamics are especially nuanced. The Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office nominated one of its department heads, whose academic and practical expertise grounded the training in Kazakhstan’s evolving legal framework.
Practical tools to bridge gaps and build trust
With contributions from international and regional experts, the CCRL course offered rich perspectives on the relationship between religious freedom and national security, legal frameworks for religious governance, and the skills necessary to build collaborative relationships across beliefs and sectors.
More than knowledge-sharing, the course served as a practical tool to bridge gaps between state institutions and religious communities.
A milestone for pluralism and social cohesion
By the end of the two days, participants left not only with new skills, but also with a renewed vision for how law enforcement and public policy can protect religious freedom while promoting social cohesion and national security.
This training in Shymkent was more than a milestone—it was a powerful step in Kazakhstan’s long-term journey to build a society where dignity, peace, and pluralism can thrive.