Kazakhstanis warned about fake messages on refugees from Syria and Afghanistan

Tengrinews.kz – A message circulating on WhatsApp, allegedly on behalf of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, has been spreading fear about refugees from Syria and Afghanistan.

Police have confirmed the message is fake.

The viral post urged citizens to remain vigilant, lock their doors and “avoid any close contact with immigrants from Syria and Afghanistan”, warning of alleged child abductions.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs stressed they never issued such statements.

“We ask citizens to trust only official sources of information and not to spread unverified messages,” the ministry’s press service said.

Authorities also reminded the public that spreading deliberately false information carries legal responsibility.

Earlier, similar fake messages claimed people posing as police officers were visiting apartments to collect personal data ahead of the national census.