Human Rights Watch has recently called for Kazakhstan to dismiss the charges against Zhanar Sekerbayeva, a prominent feminist and LGBTQ+ rights activist. Sekerbayeva, co-founder of the Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative ‘Feminita’, is facing charges of battery following a confrontation at a cafe in Astana. The incident involved a group displaying anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and filming patrons without consent. Despite Sekerbayeva’s allegations that this group escalated the situation, the authorities have pursued charges against her alone (JURIST).
Mihra Rittmann, Central Asia adviser at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the need for the authorities to drop what she describes as a “manufactured case,” noting that no one should face criminal retaliation for peacefully advocating LGBT rights in Kazakhstan. Sekerbayeva’s complaint against the individual accused of inciting the tensions in the cafe has seen no progress, highlighting potential biases in the investigation.
Sekerbayeva’s advocacy is crucial in a country where issues like domestic violence and sexual abuse often remain unreported due to systemic biases within the judicial system. Her experiences illustrate ongoing public persecutions against activists in Kazakhstan. Similar incidents include a 2018 threat and detention for participating in a peaceful photo shoot aimed at destigmatizing menstruation, reflecting the challenges faced by activists in bringing such issues to light.
Further complicating her situation, in July 2023, a man threatened her by driving his vehicle at her and made derogatory comments regarding her sexual orientation, an incident he later rationalized to police as an appropriate reaction due to her identity. These challenges underscore a broader issue where human rights defenders, especially those advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, are not only targeted by individual actors but also face systemic hurdles, emphasizing the need for reform in handling such cases (Eurasianet).