Thread 1/4 Am horrified by iresponsible behaviour of @BishopDorking + @nickbaines in allowing themselves to serve propaganda purposes of Kazak govt/ giving credibility to event designed to further propaganda of repressive Regime with grim record on #FoRB. churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/…
2/4 Kazak govt paid for/organised this event (which the bishops publicise). Worth recalling these words from @hrw “Political reforms promised in 2019 have not led to meaningful improvements in the country’s poor human rights record.”
hrw.org/europe/central…
hrw.org/europe/central…
3/4 #Kazakhstan has *dreadful* Freedom of Religion or Belief (#FoRB) record which Congress whitewashes. Bishops Wells +Baines = complicit in whitewash by uncritical participation in event/ silence on Kazak #FoRB abuse. On FoRB see reports by Forum 18 etc.
forum18.org/archive.php?co…
forum18.org/archive.php?co…
4/4 This is apart from question of disporortiomate force used to quell civil unrest earlier this year. Local security forces and Russian (!) troops shot dead c200 protestors. Credible reports of disapearances +torture have abounded since. foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/16/kaz…
FINAL. Given declining relevance of CofE in UK public life it = v. understandible #Anglican bishops are flattered when paid attention by Foriegn govts who make them feel they ‘punch above their weight’ (to qoute Bp. Wells). Sad truth is they are seen as more than usually naive.
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