In Kazakhstan, reports of violence in closed Zikrist madrassas are being investigated. Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry has begun a pre-trial investigation after allegations of possible sexual violence against teenagers studying in closed madrassas surfaced. The publications mention the religious figure Ismatullah Maxim (Ismatullah Abdughfar). He is an ethnic Kazakh originally from Afghanistan, known in Kazakhstan as the leader of the Sufi community of Zikrists, who practice repeated repetition of the name of Allah. Recently, a former member of the religious community, Akilbek Zhumbkov, said in an interview that he had heard about possible harassment from Maxim. Zumbakov claims to have learned the story of a boy who was invited to the room of a religious leader, where he was allegedly offered a sexual proposition. When the young man refused and tried to leave, he was reportedly threatened with possible consequences. "They told him that no one would believe that he could be declared mentally ill and put on trial," Zhumbakov said. He also suggested that we could talk about more than one episode. According to him, various boys were regularly invited to the religious mentor. The Ministry of the Interior began an investigation based on the information presented in Zhumbkov's interview. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Kazakhstan responded to the situation. The Muftiad stressed that Ismatullah Maxim and his followers have no connection to the SMC, and their religious views do not correspond to the position of the organization. According to media reports, Ismatullah Abdughfar (Maxum) was previously convicted. In 2011, Abdughfar was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a case related to religious extremism, the establishment of an organized crime group and illegal medical activities. He spent about ten years in prison. Now he is free.

In Kazakhstan, reports of violence in closed Zikrist madrassas are being investigated. Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry has begun a pre-trial investigation after allegations of possible sexual violence against teenagers studying in closed madrassas surfaced. The publications mention the religious figure Ismatullah Maxim (Ismatullah Abdughfar). He is an ethnic Kazakh originally from Afghanistan, known in Kazakhstan as the leader of the Sufi community of Zikrists, who practice repeated repetition of the name of Allah. Recently, a former member of the religious community, Akilbek Zhumbkov, said in an interview that he had heard about possible harassment from Maxim. Zumbakov claims to have learned the story of a boy who was invited to the room of a religious leader, where he was allegedly offered a sexual proposition. When the young man refused and tried to leave, he was reportedly threatened with possible consequences. "They told him that no one would believe that he could be declared mentally ill and put on trial," Zhumbakov said. He also suggested that we could talk about more than one episode. According to him, various boys were regularly invited to the religious mentor. The Ministry of the Interior began an investigation based on the information presented in Zhumbkov's interview. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Kazakhstan responded to the situation. The Muftiad stressed that Ismatullah Maxim and his followers have no connection to the SMC, and their religious views do not correspond to the position of the organization. According to media reports, Ismatullah Abdughfar (Maxum) was previously convicted. In 2011, Abdughfar was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a case related to religious extremism, the establishment of an organized crime group and illegal medical activities. He spent about ten years in prison. Now he is free.