Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament has approved a sweeping new bill banning what it calls “LGBT propaganda”, prompting strong condemnation from international human rights organisations and LGBTQ+ activists.
The legislation, passed unanimously by the Mäjilis, would outlaw the dissemination of information that “promotes non-traditional sexual values” across a wide range of settings. This includes public spaces, traditional media, advertising, telecommunications, and online platforms. Under the proposed rules, a first offence would result in a fine of around 121,000 tiyn (approximately £175), while repeated violations could lead to up to 10 days in prison.
The bill will now move to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved, before being presented to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his final signature.
Government officials argue the restrictions are necessary to “protect children” from what they describe as harmful information online. Education Minister Gani Beisembayev told lawmakers that the legislation is intended to safeguard young people from content that could “negatively affect their understanding of family values and morality”.
However, rights organisations say the measure is discriminatory, dangerous and in clear conflict with Kazakhstan’s international human rights obligations. Groups including Human Rights Watch have criticised the bill as a tool that will enable censorship, encourage discrimination and stifle freedom of expression. The International Partnership for Human Rights described the move as a “blatant breach” of global human rights standards and warned that its vague wording will lead to arbitrary enforcement.
If enacted, the bill would give authorities sweeping new powers to block websites and online content without a court order, mirroring laws in Russia, Hungary and Georgia that have become central pillars of those governments’ anti-LGBTQ policies. Activists fear Kazakhstan could follow the same path, using the law to target everything from Pride events and community organisations to media reporting and online discussion.
Kazakhstan, a majority-Muslim but officially secular country, decriminalised same-sex relationships in the 1990s. Yet public attitudes remain largely conservative, and visibility for LGBTQ+ people is limited. Campaigners say the new legislation is the product of growing pressure from conservative groups, particularly following a 2024 petition launched by the Kazakhstan Parents Union titled “We Are Against Open and Concealed LGBT Propaganda in the Republic of Kazakhstan”, which gathered more than 50,000 signatures.
Local activists warn that LGBTQ+ people in Kazakhstan already face discrimination in employment, healthcare, education and housing. The new law, they argue, risks pushing the community further underground by making it harder to access support services, accurate information and safe online spaces.
International observers have urged the Kazakh government to reconsider the law, arguing that it contradicts the country’s commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as its own national development strategies, which emphasise modernisation and openness.
The bill’s progression comes at a time when Kazakhstan continues to position itself as a partner to Western governments and investors. Critics note that the legislation sits uneasily alongside the country’s stated commitments to human rights and democratic values in recent trade and diplomatic agreements.
The final decision now rests with the Senate and President Tokayev. Human rights organisations say there is still time for the government to withdraw or amend the bill, but warn that if it becomes law, it will mark a significant and troubling step backwards for LGBTQ+ rights in Central Asia.