Atyrau: Criminal Case Opened Over Altered Kazakhstan Flag Displayed on Ice Rink

In Atyrau, a criminal investigation has been launched after a photograph surfaced showing four girls in niqabs posing on an ice rink with a modified version of the Kazakh flag, Orda.kz reports.

Unlike the official flag, which features the sun, a steppe eagle, and a national ornamental pattern, the version shown in the photo included Arabic inscriptions and a sabre at the top.

Based on the script style and layout, the writing appears to be the shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet."

The image sparked backlash online, with many users interpreting the alteration as a desecration of Kazakhstan’s state symbol.

The National Security Committee and the Atyrau Regional Police Department are conducting a joint investigation into the incident.

When they were looking, they checked the cameras of the ice palace. The flag was purchased in an Instagram store,a law enforcement source told us. 

In response to a formal inquiry, the regional police issued an official statement:

A criminal case has been opened on the basis of the photograph distributed on social networks under the article on desecration of state symbols. A pre-trial investigation is underway. Four suspects have been identified and taken to the police.

No further details were released, as the investigation is ongoing.

Original Author: Daniel Arturov

The Original Article was posted on 27/03/2025