Абзалов Ернар Абзалұлы

Ernar Abzaluly Abzalov is a Master of Religious Studies and Senior Lecturer. He was born on January 2, 1995, in Atyrau, Kazakhstan. From 2001 to 2012, he studied at B. Begaliyev Secondary School in Kurmangazy District, Atyrau region. In 2012–2016, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in History from the Faculty of History, Law and Economics at Makhambet Utemisov West Kazakhstan State University (Uralsk). Between 2016 and 2018, he worked at the Information and Analytical Center under the Department of Religious Affairs of Atyrau Region, serving as a specialist and later as head of department. From 2017 to 2020, he pursued his Master’s degree at Bashkir State Pedagogical University named after Akmulla (Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russian Federation), specializing in “Religion in the History of Society,” and obtained a Master’s degree in Pedagogy. From 2018 to 2024, he worked as a historian and religious studies specialist at the “Shapagat” Public Foundation, a center providing assistance to victims of destructive religious movements. In 2021–2022, he also worked at the “Zhardem Atyrau” Corporate Foundation. In 2020, he pursued doctoral studies in the field of History of Religions at Erciyes University (Turkey). His research interests include the history of religions, Islamic history, and issues related to destructive religious movements. He is the author of the book “The History of Islam in the Kazakh Steppe. First Period” (2022).