E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.1 Page 54 religious associations in Kazakhstan, and action is taken against those who fail to comply. 234. Finally, the Government noted that, in Kazakhstan, questions of religious freedom are viewed in the broader context of efforts to uphold human rights. Religious associations may resolve any problems arising at the local level by applying to independent institutions to protect their rights, for example the Kazakh Government’s Council for Relations with Religious Associations, whose members include the leaders of many of the religions represented in Kazakhstan; the Association of Religious Associations, which is playing an increasingly prominent role in solving interdenominational problems; and the national Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan.” Communication sent on 6 July 2005 235. The Special Rapporteur was informed that the Parliament had recently approved what were believed to be far -reaching "national security" amendments to eleven laws. Concern had been expressed that the ban on the activity of unregistered religious associations and the amendments to the administrative code significantly limited believers' rights. 236. The draft law introduced amendments to both the criminal and the administrative codes. Indeed, Article 337 (1), included in the Criminal Code, provided that: "Organizing the activity of a public or religious association or another organization after a court has taken a decision to ban their activity or to close them down because they give rise to extremism". It punished participation in the activity of a religious association that had been banned by a court with a fine of 200 times the monthly wage, or up to two years' imprisonment. 237. Moreover, a new Article, 374-1, was introduced to the administrative code, and punished participation in the activity of an unregistered religious organization with a heavy fine. Also article 375 of the administrative code, which dealt with violations by religious groups in the past, including by punishing refusal to register a religious organization was amended as follows: "Missionary work carried out by citizens, foreign citizens and persons who have no citizenship, without the appropriate registration, will attract a fine of up to 15 times the monthly wage of a citizen, while foreigners and persons without citizenship will be fined up to 15 times the monthly wage and will be expelled beyond the borders of the Republic of Kazakhstan." Response from the Government dated 31 August 2005 238. The Government informed that on 8 July 2005 the Head of State signed an Act amending and supplementing certain legislative acts, including the Freedom of Religion and Religious Associations Act. With the entry into force of the new Act, the operation of unregistered religious organizations is prohibited as a criminal offence. The penalty is a prison term of three to six months imprisonment. In addition, the Act regulates the procedure for reorganizing and closing down religious organizations and introduces additions to the definition of criminal and administrative responsibility for certain offences arising from displays of extremism. The bodies