Is it legal to perform a religious marriage ceremony (neke/nikah) outside a mosque (e.g., in restaurants or at home) in the presence of witnesses?

No. According to the legislation of Kazakhstan, a religious marriage (neke) can only be concluded after official registration with the civil registry office (RAGS/ZAGS) and exclusively in places of worship (inside a mosque) with the participation of an official imam. Secret marriages outside a mosque are illegal, and in the event of the family’s breakup, the rights of the woman and child may remain legally unprotected.

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