News

On 25 November 2025, the Director of the Department of Analysis and Monitoring of the Religious situation, Z. Malgaraeva, held a series of meetings with representatives of various youth groups in the Akmola Region. The events were organized as part of ongoing informational and awareness-raising work aimed at strengthening legal culture and increasing understanding of contemporary threats.

The key topics of the meetings were “The Values of a Secular State” and “Risks and Threats of Terrorism Among Youth.”

In her remarks, the speaker emphasized the fundamental aspects of the principle of secularity. It was noted that a secular state ensures equality of all religions before the law, freedom of activity for religious associations, and protection of citizens from discrimination. The principle of secularity guarantees conditions for both major confessions and small religious groups, providing freedom for individuals—believers and non-believers alike—without fear that the state will impose a “correct” faith or worldview.

Addressing the topic of radicalization risks, Z. Malgaraeva noted that hidden processes of involvement in destructive ideologies continue to develop within the youth environment. According to UN data, young people aged 15–25 remain the primary target group for recruitment by terrorist organizations, particularly in the online space. This poses threats both to the young people themselves—such as psychological trauma and the risk of being drawn into criminal activity—and to society at large, where the likelihood of so-called “domestic terrorism” increases.

The speaker stressed that prevention is significantly more effective than repressive measures. According to UNODC, programs focused on education, critical thinking, tolerance, and digital literacy can reduce radicalization risks by 30–50%.

The events were held in an interactive format, allowing participants to actively ask questions, discuss current challenges, and offer their own ideas for preventing risks among youth.