Showman Nurtas Adambay fined for quoting Quran verses on social media

Astana's specialized inter-district administrative court has imposed a fine of 184,600 tenge on well-known actor and producer Nurtas Adambay for quoting verses from the Quran on his Instagram account, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

The charges stem from allegations that Adambay violated Kazakhstan’s laws on religious activity and associations by distributing religious content without proper permission, which is limited to certain locations such as mosques and religious schools. Despite his insistence that he was unaware of these laws, Adambay faced a swift legal process that also included a request to subpoena the minister of culture and information, which was ultimately denied.

Kazinform News Agency previously reported that in his social media posts, Adambay expressed regret for his actions and sought forgiveness from individuals he may have offended, including famous figures, mass media and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus.

Known for his comedic roles in popular films such as "Kelinка Sabina" and "Akim", Adambay has also been an outspoken critic of LGBTQIA+ rights in Kazakhstan, previously urging President Tokayev to ban content he deemed inappropriate.

The legal proceedings against Adambay began in mid-July, with the court initially planning to hold the hearing via video conference, but it was then postponed. After that, the court has now ruled to impose a fine.