Gender: Male
Current Location: Myitkyina Prison, Kachin State
Perpetrator: Burma
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December/4/2022
Date of Sentencing: April/7/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Terrorism
Hkalam Samson is imprisoned for his religious activity and religious leadership role.
On December 4, 2022, authorities arrested Samson, a pastor and advisor to the Kachin Baptist Convention, at Mandalay International Airport as he attempted to fly to Thailand for medical treatment.
On December 5, 2022, Samson was put on a plane back to Myitkyina in Kachin State, where he was arrested again upon landing.
On December 6, 2022, it was reportedly learned that Samson was facing prosecution in relation to his preaching and speeches made in Bible classes. Samson's charges were unclear. Prior to his arrest, Samson had arranged the funerals of an October military junta airstrike on a Kachin Independence Army concert that killed 60 people. He also attempted to get medical care for those seriously injured in the strike. A month later, he also took part in a prayer meeting commemorating those who died.
On April 7, 2023, authorities in Kachin State sentenced Samson to six years in prison on charges of terrorism, unlawful association, and inciting opposition to the military regime.
On April 17, 2024, authorities released 3,303 prisoners from Mytikyina Prison, including Samson.
On April 18, 2024 authorities rearrested Samson
Samson previously faced prosecution after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss religious freedom in Burma in July 2019.
Photo used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. https://www.rfa.org. Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA.
"Myanmar Christian Leader Rearrested Hours After Release in Amnesty" The Irrawaddy
"Reverend Samson’s Prison Sentence" U.S. Department of State
"Baptist Minister in Myanmar Gets 6 Years in Prison for Opposing Junta" New York Times (NYT)
USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck, Tweet, March 24, 2023
USCIRF Commissioners Abraham Cooper and Mohamed Magid, Tweet, February 27, 2023
USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Magid, Tweet, December 9, 2022
Ned Price, Tweet, December 8, 2022
"Religious leader Hkalam Samson set to be prosecuted by Myanmar’s junta" Radio Free Asia (RFA)
"Myanmar religious leader detained and banned from leaving the country" Radio Free Asia (RFA)
"After Meeting With Trump, a Myanmar Clergyman Could Be Prosecuted" New York Times (NYT)
Additional Name(s): Jemil Gafarov, Гафаров Джемиль Абдуллаевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Health Concerns: Heart, kidney issues, hypertension
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 13 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/27/2019
Date of Sentencing: January/11/2023
Date of Death: February/10/2023
Current Status: Deceased
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Dzhemil Gafarov was imprisoned and died in state custody for his alleged religious activity.
On March 27, 2019, authorities arrested Gafarov, an activist from the Crimean Solidarity movement, after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities searched the homes of several activists and allegedly confiscated Hizb ut-Tahrir materials. Gafarov was charged with “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
On October 27, 2022, Gafarov reportedly suffered a heart attack and was not provided treatment.
On January 11, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Gafarov to 13 years in prison.
On February 10, 2023, Gafarov died in prison after experiencing years and very recent medical neglect. On the day of Gafarov's death, his lawyer reportedly received a notice rejecting a request to send Gafarov to a hospital for examination after he experienced chest pain, difficulty breathing, and severe headaches in mid-January.
On September 11, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld Gafarov's sentence, despite Gafarov dying in prison.
Gafarov was reportedly denied proper medical care while in prison. He reportedly suffered from "arteriosclerotic heart disease; post-heart attack cardiosclerosis; angina with chest pressure of classes I and II; chronic kidney insufficiency; chronic inflammation of part of the kidney (chronic interstitial nephritis); third level hypertension; primary arterial hypertension and a very high risk of fourth level cardiovascular complications."
Related Cases: Servet Gaziyev, Erfan Osmanov, Seiran Murtaza, Alim Karimov
Photo attributed to Political Prisoners.Memorial
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Urges Sanctions on Russian Officials Abusing FoRB Prisoners March 1, 2024
"Russia upholds death sentences against two Crimean Tatar political prisoners after killing one of them" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Апелляция утвердила по 13 лет колонии пятерым крымским татарам, включая умершего в СИЗО" OVD-Info
USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
USCIRF Hearing: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for Religious Freedom March 15, 2023
USCIRF Commissioners Sharon Kleinbaum and Abraham Cooper, Tweet, February 13, 2023
"60-летний фигурант дела «Хизб ут-Тахрир», перенёсший сердечный приступ, скончался в СИЗО" Memorial
"Crimean Tatar Activist Gafarov Dies In Russian Custody" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Джемиля Гафарова обязаны были обследовать в больнице, но отказ на это пришел в день его смерти" Crimean Solidarity
USCIRF Commissioners Sharon Kleinbaum and Abraham Cooper, Tweet, January 12, 2023
"The court sentenced the last five defendants in the second Simferopol case of Hizb ut-Tahrir" SOVA Center
"Russia demands sentences that will kill gravely ill Crimean Tatar political prisoners" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Russian court willing to kill 60-year-old Crimean Tatar political prisoner, heart attack or not" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"59-year-old Crimean Tatar political prisoner will die in Russian captivity without dialysis" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Гафаров Джемиль Абдуллаевич" Political Prisoners.Memorial
"List of Individuals Recognised as Political Prisoners by the Memorial Human Rights Centre and Persecuted in connection with the Realisation of Their Right to Freedom of Religion as of 9 November 2021" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Crimean Tatar political prisoners rushed to hospital, one returned for more torture" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Crimean Tatar journalist faces 15-year sentence for ‘planning to overthrow the Russian regime’ with book on being alone with God" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Суд продлил Энверу Аметову срок содержания под стражей в СИЗО и отклонил апелляцию защиты" Crimean Solidarity
2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ukraine - Crimea U.S. Department of State
"Симферопольское дело 25 о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial Human Rights Center
"The FSB is making a large number of arrests in an attempt to close down the Crimean Tatars’ human rights movement" Memorial Human Rights Center
Additional Name(s): Каримов Алим Эгамбердиевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 13 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/27/2019
Date of Sentencing: January/11/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Alim Karimov is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.
On March 27, 2019, authorities arrested Karimov, an activist from the Crimean Solidarity movement, after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities searched the homes of several activists and allegedly confiscated Hizb ut-Tahrir materials. Karimov was charged with “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
On January 11, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Karimov to 13 years in prison.
On September 11, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld Karimov's sentence.
Karimov has one child.
Related Cases: Servet Gaziyev, Erfan Osmanov, Seiran Murtaza, Dzhemil Gafarov
Photo attributed to Political Prisoners.Memorial
"Russia upholds death sentences against two Crimean Tatar political prisoners after killing one of them" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Апелляция утвердила по 13 лет колонии пятерым крымским татарам, включая умершего в СИЗО" OVD-Info
USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
USCIRF Commissioners Sharon Kleinbaum and Abraham Cooper, Tweet, January 12, 2023
"The court sentenced the last five defendants in the second Simferopol case of Hizb ut-Tahrir" SOVA Center
"Russia demands sentences that will kill gravely ill Crimean Tatar political prisoners" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"Каримов Алим Эгамбердиевич" Political Prisoners.Memorial
"List of Individuals Recognised as Political Prisoners by the Memorial Human Rights Centre and Persecuted in connection with the Realisation of Their Right to Freedom of Religion as of 9 November 2021" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Crimean Tatar journalist faces 15-year sentence for ‘planning to overthrow the Russian regime’ with book on being alone with God" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"Суд продлил Энверу Аметову срок содержания под стражей в СИЗО и отклонил апелляцию защиты" Crimean Solidarity
2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ukraine - Crimea U.S. Department of State
"Симферопольское дело 25 о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial Human Rights Center
"The FSB is making a large number of arrests in an attempt to close down the Crimean Tatars’ human rights movement" Memorial Human Rights Center