More than 14 thousand materials with terrorist narratives removed from social media in 2023

Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aida Balaeva spoke about the outcomes of the ministry’s work in the field of religion in 2023, a Kazinform correspondent reports.

According to Balaeva, the ministry’s activities in the field of religion are structured within three main areas: outreach and rehabilitation, prevention of religious extremism in the Internet space and counter-narratives to it.

– It is obvious that rather than fighting the consequences of problems existing in this area, we should eradicate the root causes. In 2023, more than 14 thousand pieces of illegal materials promoting religious extremism and terrorism were removed and blocked, the minister said.

The minister added that more than 75 thousand pieces of materials were posted in the mass media and popular social media in order to support activities aiming to prevent religious extremism and terrorism, promote interfaith harmony and strengthen the secular values of Kazakh society.

In addition, a draft Concept for the development of public policy in the religious sphere for 2024-2028 has been prepared.