Officials in various countries attempt to control even the prayers of their citizens. Kazakhstan has been aggressively targeting those who dare to pray without state permission.
Police across the country recorded 159 hate crimes targeted at Muslims, up from 45 in 2012, representing an increase of 253 per cent. In just one year, between 2014 and 2015, that number increased by 59 per cent: from 99 in 2014 to 159 the following year.
Treasure Hunters Damage Chapel in Turkey
Turkey now has a dubious reputation for limiting rights of religious and cultural minorities. Rhetoric used by political figures appears to validate social perceptions about Christians that lead to treasure hunting and other types of challenges.