Additional Name(s): وصال ممتازی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 3 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Insulting Public Officials & Institutions Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Vesal Momtazi

Extra Bio Info:

Vesal Momtazi was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On December 6, 2022, authorities in Rasht arrested Momtazi in relation to his being Baha'i.

On an unspecified date, Momtazi was released on bail.

On June 13, 2023, Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court reportedly sentenced Momtazi to seven months and 16 days in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” one year and three months in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and three years and six months in prison for “insulting Sharia law.”  If his sentence is upheld on appeal, Momtazi would serve three years and six months in prison as his sentences run concurrently.

In August 2023, it was reported that the Gilan Province Court of Appeals had upheld Momtazi's sentence. Momtazi is expected to serve three years and six months in prison as his sentences run concurrently.

Momtazi had reportedly been expelled from Qazvin International University in 2010 for his religious belief. 

Sources:

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

Extra Bio Info:

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.

Sources:

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

Extra Bio Info:

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

Sources:
Subscribe to