Additional Name(s): Ваньков Вячеслав Евгеньевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 18 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/5/2020

Date of Sentencing: September/13/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Illicit Financing Terrorism

Vyacheslav Vankov

Extra Bio Info:

Vyacheslav Vankov is imprisoned for his religious association and activity. 

On November 5, 2020, authorities in Kazan arrested several people, including Vankov, for allegedly being members of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities accused them of holding meetings, studying religious literature, and recruiting other Muslims to join the organization. Vankov was charged with "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC), “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC), and "financing terrorist activities" (Art. 205.1-1 RCC).

On September 13, 2022, the Central District Military Court sentenced Vankov to 18 years in prison.

Related Cases: Rail Abdrakhmanov, Lenar Mukhamadeev, Ilsur Galeev

Sources:

Additional Name(s): Абдрахманов Раиль Рафаилович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 17 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/5/2020

Date of Sentencing: September/13/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Illicit Financing Terrorism

Rail Abdrakhmanov

Extra Bio Info:

Rail Abdrakhmanov is imprisoned for his religious association and activity. 

On November 5, 2020, authorities in Kazan arrested several people, including Abdrakhmanov, for allegedly being members of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities accused them of holding meetings, studying religious literature, and recruiting other Muslims to join the organization. Abdrakhmanov was charged with "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC), “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC), and "financing terrorist activities" (Art. 205.1-1 RCC).

On September 13, 2022, the Central District Military Court sentenced Abdrakhmanov to 17 years in prison.

Abdrakhmanov is married with two children.

Related Cases: Vyacheslav Vankov, Lenar Mukhamadeev, Ilsur Galeev

Sources:

Dec 6, 2022

USCIRF Releases Report on Blasphemy Charges in Turkey 

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report:

Blasphemy Charges in Turkey – This report reviews Turkey’s continued criminalization of blasphemy under Article 216(3) of the Turkish Penal Code, which permits a prison sentence ranging from six months to one year for an individual “who openly insults the religious values of a section of the public.” The Turkish government’s use of this article is generally politically motivated and seeks to penalize individuals perceived to have insulted or mocked Islam, or to intimidate or retaliate against critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), or others associated with the current government. The report concludes by highlighting select recent cases of individuals and entities that have faced criminal blasphemy charges.

In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State include Turkey on its Special Watch List for engaging in severe violations of religious freedom. USCIRF staff visited the country in March 2022 and discussed findings from that trip in an episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

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