Batylbek Baikazy, a human rights activist, was sentenced to five years in prison in Kazakhstan in April 2026. District Court Judge Yerzhan Nurdangazy found him guilty of "inciting ethnic hatred."
Baikazy's imprisonment stems from his arrest in November 2025. He was detained along with 18 other activists during a demonstration opposing China's detention of a Kazakh truck driver and its extensive mistreatment of Muslim populations in Xinjiang.
Reports indicate that Chinese authorities have committed genocide and other crimes against humanity against religious minority groups in Xinjiang since 2017. The protest aimed to draw attention to these ongoing actions.
Baikazy's advocacy for religious freedom is cited as the underlying reason for his incarceration. He remains in custody following his sentencing.
Immediate international attention is crucial for Batylbek Baikazy's release and the protection of human rights advocacy in Kazakhstan.
Sources
https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/batylbek-baikazy
