Additional Name(s): Дадаш Мәженовтің
Gender: Male
Current Location: ZK-169/1 Prison, Kyzylorda
Perpetrator: Kazakhstan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years, 8 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: April/23/2018
Date of Sentencing: October/13/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Online Activity
Nature of Charges: Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism
Dadash Mazhenov is imprisoned for posting online religious content.
On April 23, 2018, authorities arrested Mazhenov in relation to posts he made online containing religious sermons in 2015, despite deleting the content in 2017.
On November 16, 2018, the Burabai District Court sentenced Mazhenov to seven years and eight months in prison for “promotion of terrorism or public calls for making of the act of terrorism…with use of mass media or networks of telecommunications” (Art. 256-2 KCC). It also fined him 60,790 tenges.
On January 30, 2019, the Akmola Regional Court upheld Mazhenov's sentence but reduced his fine to 1,255 tenges.
On February 25, 2019, Mazhenov's bank accounts were frozen after he was placed on the Finance Ministry's watch list.
On January 21, 2020, the Supreme Court annulled Mazhenov's conviction and ordered that he be given a new trial.
On October 13, 2020, the Akmola Regional Court upheld Mazhenov's original verdict and fined him 134,599 tenges.
Mazhenov has reportedly been tortured while imprisoned, specifically in relation to practicing his religion in prison.
Mazhenov is serving his sentence in Kyzylorda's ZK-169/1 Prison.
Mazhenov is married.
Photo Credit: Sanya Toiken (RFE/RL); Copyright (c)2023 RFE/RL, Inc. Used with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036. "Терроризмді насихаттады" деп сотталған Мәженовтің анасы: Ұлымды түрмеде-ұрып соққан, азаптаған
""Терроризмді насихаттады" деп сотталған Мәженовтің анасы: Ұлымды түрмеде-ұрып соққан, азаптаған" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Kazakhstan: Tortured prisoner of conscience jailed again" Forum 18
2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kazakhstan U.S. Department of State
Kazakhstan: Events of 2020 Human Rights Watch
"Жоғарғы сот "терроризм" айыбымен сотталған Маженовтің ісін қайта қарауға жіберді" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Kazakhstan: Second long jailing for online Islamic talks" Forum 18
"Kazakhstan: Ever harsher jailings for religious talks" Forum 18
Additional Name(s): سعیده خضوعی
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Health Concerns: Migraines
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: April//2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Saeedeh Khozui was detained in relation to her religious belief and activity.
On April 11, 2022, Khozui was reportedly arrested after appearing at a courthouse.
On May 24, 2022, Khozui was reportedly released on bail.
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom in Iran in 2022 July 2022
"Saeideh Khozouei" United For Iran
"Baha’i Citizen Saeedeh Khozui Released on Bail after 43 Days of Detention" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"تداوم بازداشت و بلاتکلیفی سعیده خضوعی، شهروند بهائی در تهران" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Baha’i Citizen Saeedeh Khozui in Detention Eight Days after Arrest" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
Additional Name(s): فریبا دلیر
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: April//2022
Date of Sentencing: December//2021
Date of Release: October/18/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization
Fariba Dalir was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert.
In July 2021, authorities arrested Dalir and five other converts from Islam to Christianity, including her at the time fiancé now husband, Soroush, reportedly for belonging to an Evangelical Christian church.
Dalir and Soroush were released on bail after spending two months in pre-trial detention. Dalir was also subjected to prolonged solitary confinement while imprisoned.
In December 2021, Dalir was sentenced to two years in prison. United For Iran lists the charge as "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC), while Article 18 reports the charge as “acting against national security by establishing and leading an Evangelical Christian church."
In April 2022, Dalir reportedly began serving her sentence in Evin Prison.
On October 18, 2022, Dalir was reportedly released from prison.
Photo attributed to Article 18
Article18, Tweet, October 19, 2022
"Fariba Dalir" United For Iran
"Second Iranian Christian woman began prison sentence on Easter Saturday" Article 18
"Christian woman convert begins two-year prison sentence" Article 18