Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: October/11/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Mihretab Stefanos

Extra Bio Info:

Mihretab Stefanos was detained in relation to his religious leadership role and religious expression.

On October 11, 2022, authorities arrested, Stefanos, the priest of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in the diocese of Segheneity. Stefanos was reportedly targeted for highlighting human rights violations during homilies.

On December 29, 2022, it was reported that Stefanos had been released. 

Related Cases: Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim, Abraham

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Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: October/15/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim

Extra Bio Info:

Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim was detained in relation to his religious leadership role and religious expression.

On October 15, 2022, authorities arrested Tsalim, the Catholic bishop of Segheneity diocese, at Asmara International Airport upon his return from Europe. Tsalim was reportedly targeted for highlighting human rights violations during homilies.

On December 29, 2022, it was reported that Tsalim had been released. 

Related Cases: Mihretab Stefanos, Abraham

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Additional Name(s): Roy Suryo Notodiprojo

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Indonesia

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 9 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/5/2022

Date of Sentencing: December/28/2022

Date of Release: May/2/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Roy Suryo

Extra Bio Info:

Roy Suryo was imprisoned for blasphemy.

On August 5, 2022, police arrested Suryo, the former Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs, for tweeting out an image of President Joko Widodo's face digitally imposed on a Buddhist statue. Suryo's tweet reportedly came after the government announced plans to raise the entry price to get into the Borobudur Temple. Suryo was reportedly charged with “disseminating information aimed at inflicting hatred or dissension on individuals and/or certain groups of community based on ethnic groups, religions, races, and inter-groups” (Art. 28(2) Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE)) and “insulting a religion" or "preventing a person from adhering to any religion based on a belief in God” (Art. 156a ICC) as well as under Law Number 1 of 1946 for disseminating false information.

On December 28, 2022, the West Jakarta District Court sentenced Suryo to nine months in prison.

On February 10, 2023, the Jakarta High Court upheld Suryo's sentence and imposed a fine of 150 million rupiah or two additional months in jail.

In May 2023, the Supreme Court rejected Suryo's appeal.

On May 2, 2023, Suryo was released after completing his sentence.

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