A/HRC/13/23/Add.1 Because of historic associations, some minorities, including Uighurs, Koreans, Russians and Germans are particularly linked with certain non-traditional faiths. Some commentators expressed concern that, consequently, discrimination against religious groups also has an ethnic dimension. 65. In 2006, a Government decree encouraged people to avoid associating with “nontraditional” and “extremist” groups.23 Leaflets prepared by the Ministry of Justice entitled “How to avoid the influence of religious sects” (a copy of which was given to the independent expert) warn against the risks of involvement with non-traditional religions and provide recommendations. The leaflets describe the activities of certain groups in terms of “treason against the Motherland” and “making havoc and spreading discord”, and should therefore be avoided if harmony and security is to be assured. Among the groups specifically referred to are Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists and Ahmadis. VI. Protection against violence 66. Government representatives acknowledge some incidents of violence involving Kazakhs and members of different ethnic groups. It downplayed their significance by noting that they are usually resolved locally, are not ethnic in nature and are motivated by socio-economic factors, criminality and “hooliganism”. The Government notes that the criminal legislation, including the Law on Counteracting Extremism, provides for liability for inciting national, racial or religious hatred and violence, and propaganda of superiority or inferiority of citizens on the grounds of their religion, ethnicity, tribal or racial origin. Although cases of incitement to ethnic or religious hatred in the press and published material were also acknowledged, the Government claimed that they were dealt with swiftly by the courts. National authorities stressed the extremely good inter-ethnic and inter-faith relations and tolerance in all regions. 67. Civil society sources described several incidents considered examples of aggressive manifestations of nationalism, ethnically-based tensions and violent responses targeted against minority communities. 68. In October 2007, in the village of Mayatas, the rape of a 4-year-old Kazakh boy was blamed on a Kurdish man. The suspect was detained by police, however, a group of Kazakhs reportedly attacked the home of his family and the neighbouring Kurdish community. A series of riots, attacks against Kurdish individuals and families and widespread damage to Kurdish property in the region, including with firebombs, reportedly led many Kurds to flee the village. Some have described growing anti-Kurdish attitudes, particularly in the media. 69. In March 2007, attacks were targeted at Chechen communities following a fight between a Kazakh and a Chechen in Malovodnoe. A large crowd reportedly gathered and attacked the property of the Chechen Mahmahanov family. Three members of the family and two members of the crowd were killed in the ensuing violence. Media sources reported that Chechen houses were plundered, property and cars burned, and small trading kiosks destroyed. Over 500 Kazakhs subsequently gathered and marched towards areas with large Chechen populations before being contained by police. Authorities reportedly blamed “hooligans”, underlying social conditions and poverty. 23 GE.10-10602 Decree No. 228 of the President establishing a State Programme for Patriotic Education of Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period 2006–2008. http://www.ayalyalakansko.kz/ru/infobaza/ prog_patriot.shtml. 17