Dec 9, 2022

In November 2022, USCIRF visited Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, to assess the current conditions and issues that Burmese Rohingya refugees are facing. The Rohingya community, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority from Burma, have long fled religious persecution to neighboring Bangladesh. However, the most recent waves of refugees came in August 2017 following wide-scale atrocities that the Burmese authorities and military, known as the Tatmadaw, committed against them. These atrocities forced over a million Rohingya to flee the country, with a majority now temporarily residing in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. In March 2022, the Biden administration designated these atrocities as genocide and crimes against humanity, which USCIRF had been calling for since 2017.

USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck, who led this delegation, joins us today to discuss his first-hand account of the Rohingya’s current conditions at the Bangladeshi refugee camps. On this trip, the delegation met with refugees, international organization officials, and members of the government of Bangladesh.

Additional Name(s): Hamid Ghare-Hassanlou, Hamid Qarahasanlou, Hamid Ghareh Hassanlou, Hamid Ghara-Hasanlu, حمید قره حسنلو

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Turk

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment (Originally Death)

Date of Detainment: November/4/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Resisting State-Imposed Religious Systems Women’s Rights

Nature of Charges: Miscellaneous Religious Crimes

Hamid Gharehassanlou

Extra Bio Info:

Hamid Gharehassanlou is imprisoned on religiously oriented charges for protesting religious freedom conditions. 

On November 4, 2022, authorities in Karaj arrested Gharehassanlou, a member of the Sufi Gonabadi Order, and his wife Farzaneh Gharehassanlou from their home after they had participated in the 40th day commemoration of the murder of Hadis Najafi. Najafi had been killed by security forces while protesting the death of Mahsa Amini. Hamid Gharehassanlou was reportedly beaten during the arrest. Authorities falsely accused the Gharehassanlous of being involved in the killing of a member of a state-backed paramilitary force. During interrogations, Hamid was reportedly tortured into confessing. Farzaneh was also reportedly tortured into making incriminating claims about Hamid. 

On November 6, 2022, state media broadcasted forced confessions by the Gharehassanlous. Both Hamid and Farzaneh reportedly had visible signs of torture on their bodies.

In early December 2022, it was learned that a court in Karaj, Alborz province, sentenced Hamid Gharehassanlou to death for “spreading corruption on earth through committing crimes against national security.” At the time of his sentencing, Gharehassanlou was in the hospital recovering from internal bleeding caused by torture. According to a family member, authorities reportedly threatened the Gharehassanlous' lawyers until they were forced to accept a public defender, who allegedly worked to convict them.

In late December 2022, it was reported that Gharehassanlou had been returned to Karaj Central Penitentiary. 

In February 2023, it was reported that Gharehassanlou's health had deteriorated and that authorities at Karaj Central Penitentiary had refused to provide him adequate medical care and transfer him to a hospital for treatment. Gharehassanlou reportedly suffers from heart disease and digestive issues.

In April 2023, it was reported that a court in Karaj sentenced Gharehassanlou to 15 years in prison, and that prison authorities have not provided medical treatment despite his “worrying physical conditions.” 

Related Cases: Farzaneh Gharehassanlou

Sources:

Additional Name(s): شهرام نادری

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Yarsani

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: December/6/2022

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Shahram Naderi

Extra Bio Info:

Shahram Naderi was detained for his religious belief and activity. 

On December 6, 2022, authorities in Kermanshah reportedly arrested Naderi in relation to his religious belief.

Sources:
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