30 January 2009
KAZAKHSTAN: THE COURT HEARING WHICH NEVER WAS?
Kazakhstan has barred the Hare Krishna community's leader in Central Asia
from visiting the country, Forum 18 News Service has found.
Kazakh officials have claimed that US citizen Seane Hobgood (religious name
Govinda Swami) was found guilty of "illegal missionary activity" by Aktobe
Regional court in 2008. The alleged "illegal missionary activity" was a
private talk to devotees. However, Aktobe Regional Court, Aktobe City
Administrative Court and City Civil Court all confirmed to Forum 18 that
they did not hear any case relating to Govinda Swami (Seane Hobgood) in
2008. Also, Govinda Swami had previously visited Kazakhstan since the
alleged conviction, without being banned. Human rights defender Yevgeni
Zhovtis pointed out to Forum 18 that describing Govinda Swami's talk to a
registered religious community as "illegal missionary activity" is
"absolute rubbish". Aktobe City Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Forum 18
that police filmed the gathering. In 2006, an American university lecturer
was fined and given a deportation order, after the authorities filmed him
taking part in a Bible discussion at a Baptist church he attended.
