Additional Name(s): Ruslan Suleymanov, Сулейманов Руслан Серверович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 14 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/27/2019
Date of Sentencing: November/24/2022
Current Status: Not Released
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
Ruslan Suleimanov
Extra Bio Info:
Ruslan Suleimanov is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.
On March 27, 2019, authorities arrested Suleimanov, a citizen journalist and 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. Suleimanov 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 November 24, 2022, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Suleimanov to 14 years in prison.
In November 2023, it was reported that Suleimanov has not received adequate medical care for congenital heart disease and tachycardia.
On February 1, 2024, the Military Court of Appeal upheld Suleimanov's sentence.
Suleimanov has three children.
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) advocates for Suleimanov as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.
Related Cases: Enver Ametov, Yashar Muyedinov, Rustem Sheikhaliev, Osman Arifmemetov, Eskender Suleymanov
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Memorial Human Rights Center
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"Апелляционный суд утвердил сроки пятерым фигурантам второго симферопольского дела «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" OVD-Info
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"Ruslan Suleymanov" Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
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"Гражданский журналист Руслан Сулейманов пожаловался на бездействие врачей" Crimean Solidarity
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USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
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"Пятерых крымских татар приговорили к срокам от 13 до 14 лет лишения свободы" Political Prisoners. Memorial
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"Сулейманов Руслан Серверович" Memorial Human Rights Center
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"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
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"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
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"Суд продлил Энверу Аметову срок содержания под стражей в СИЗО и отклонил апелляцию защиты" Crimean Solidarity
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2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ukraine - Crimea U.S. Department of State
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"Симферопольское дело 25 о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial Human Rights Center
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"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): Şahin Qədirov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a
Reports of Torture: Yes
Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/14/2024
Date of Sentencing: February/14/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use
Shahin Gadirov
Extra Bio Info:
Shahin Gadirov is imprisoned for his religious association and activity.
On November 23, 2022, authorities arrested Gadirov, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM), on his way home from work. According to MUM, Gadirov's arrest was meant to "pressure" the organization. Gadirov was charged with "illegally purchasing or storing with a view of selling, manufacturing, processing, transporting, transferring or selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances in large amount" (Art. 234.4.3 ACC).
In 2023, Gadirov was placed under house arrest.
On February 14, 2024, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Gadirov to three years in prison for "Illegally purchasing or storing without a purpose of selling narcotics or psychotropic substances in a quantity (amount) exceeding necessary for personal consumption" (Art. 234.1 ACC). Gadirov's defense team claimed that he had been tortured into confessing. Gadirov was taken into custody following the verdict.
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
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"Активист "Мусульманского единства" осужден по делу о наркотиках" Caucasian Knot
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“Muslim Unity member arrested on drug trafficking charges” Turan.az
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“Müsəlman Birliyi Hərəkatının üzvü narkotik ittihamı ilə həbs edilib” Voice of America (VOA)
Additional Name(s): نسیم کاشانی نژاد
Gender: Female
Current Location: Adel-Abad Prison, Shiraz
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/21/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Nasim Kashani Nejad
Extra Bio Info:
Nasim Kashani Nejad was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
On November 21, 2022, authorities in Shiraz took into custody Nejad and sent her to Adel-Abad Prison to begin serving her sentence. Prior to her arrest, an appeals court sentenced Nejad to six months in prison on accusations related to her Baha'i religious activities.
On January 29, 2023, Nejad was released from prison.
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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"نسیم کاشانی نژاد، شهروند بهائی از زندان عادل آباد آزاد شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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HRANA English, Tweet, December 1, 2022
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"بازداشت نسیم کاشانی نژاد، شهروند بهائی جهت اجرای حکم حبس" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)