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In a recent turn of events, the city of Almaty's local government, the Akimat, has denied permission for a feminist rally scheduled for March 7, citing safety concerns and the protection of public order. The rally, titled "For a Dignified Life for Women!", is organized by Bibinur Sheralieva, an activist from the AMANAT party and the founder of Rahym Social House for women in difficult situations.
Sheralieva announced the news on her Facebook page, following a series of rejections that started in 2023 when authorities initially refused to grant permission for either a march or a rally, citing that all venues were occupied by events of the Volunteer League. However, the authorities eventually allowed the feminists to gather in Gandhi Park.
The denial of the women's rally this year is not an isolated incident. In 2022, authorities did not allow the women's march to take place, but agreed to a rally at Shokan Ualikhanov Square. The first women's march in Almaty took place in March 2020.
The repeated rejections have been met with criticism from feminist activists, who view these actions as a violation of their freedom of assembly. Human rights groups have also criticized the authorities for targeting activists and denying permits without valid reasons, which they argue is an example of ongoing repression against civil society and dissenting voices in Kazakhstan.
The Akimat's decision not to approve the women's march and rally has been accompanied by a surge of opposition on social media, with over 20 appeals received by the city's Akimat demanding that the event not be allowed to take place, and more than 100 materials opposing and calling for the ban of feminist actions published online.
It's important to note that the Akimat of Almaty has a history of consistently denying permission for feminist rallies, often citing dubious grounds. This is in stark contrast to their approval of permits for other protests. For example, ahead of International Women’s Day in March 2025, women's rights activists in Almaty were denied permission to hold marches, while other peaceful assemblies such as those marking the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression and Famine were banned in multiple cities.
Despite these challenges, feminist activists continue to demand their right to organize peaceful demonstrations. The rally in Gandhi Park is a testament to their resilience and commitment to raising pressing issues facing women in society and presenting demands necessary for a dignified life for Kazakh women.
References: [1] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Kazakhstan: Authorities Continue to Restrict Protests. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/03/01/kazakhstan-authorities-continue-restrict-protests
[2] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. (2025). Kazakhstan: Authorities Ban Women's Day Rallies Despite Court Ruling. [online] Available at: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-authorities-ban-womens-day-rallies-despite-court-ruling/31457708.html
- The denial of the march and rally by the Akimat of Almaty in 2025 for the women's orchestrated by Bibinur Sheralieva, a feminist activist, has drawn criticism from social media, with numerous appeals and materials opposing the event.
- The authorities' repression against civil society and dissenting voices, as shown by continuous denial of permits for feminist rallies in Almaty, exemplifies a broader issue of policy-and-legislation in war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news.
- In contrast to their handling of feminist rallies, authorities have approved permits for other protests, such as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression and Famine.
- Feminist activists in Kazakhstan face ongoing challenges in organizing peaceful demonstrations, yet their resilience is evident as shown by the rally in Gandhi Park and their continued demand for the right to do so.
- Human rights groups argue that the actions of the Akimat are an example of repression against civil society and further investigation and policy changes in politics are urgently needed to ensure the protection of citizens' freedom of assembly and voice.
