Muftiate Responds After Harassment Incident in Aqtobe Mosque

Nearly a week after the incident in Aktobe, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan (SAMK) has issued an official statement, Orda.kz reports.

The response, posted to the Muftiate’s official Facebook page, addressed the harassment of local resident Emmanuella Nauryzbayeva in the Nur-Gasyr mosque.

A mosque is a sacred place of worship and spiritual education, where everyone is obliged to show respect and observe moral standards. In Islamic teaching, any insults and rude statements, especially towards women, are categorically condemned and considered unacceptable. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan (SAMK) condemns the actions of the man who made inappropriate statements towards a girl in Aktobe. Such behavior contradicts not only the norms of Islam, but also the generally accepted principles of morality and humanity,
 the statement reads.

SAMK also called on believers to act with restraint and prudence, emphasizing the importance of avoiding the spread of false information.

The incident occurred on July 25 at the Nur-Gasyr mosque in Aqtobe. As Emmanuella Nauryzbayeva was leaving the mosque, a man blocked her path and proposed a "one-time nikah" for intimate relations.

Four days later, on July 29, the man was tried and sentenced to five days of administrative arrest.

Emmanuella later shared her account of the encounter on Instagram. Following the post, she reported facing online harassment and personal backlash. According to her, some individuals criticized her for speaking publicly about the incident rather than remaining silent. She also said there were unannounced visits to her home.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin