Additional Name(s): امین شریفی
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: October/4/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Amin Sharifi is detained for his religious belief and activity.
On October 4, 2022, authorities arrested Sharifi from his home in Mashhad reportedly in relation to his being Baha'i.
"Arrest of Amin Sharifi, a Baha’i citizen in Mashhad" Iran Press Watch
Additional Name(s): Şamhal Eyvazov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: April//2018
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Instruction & Teaching Travel Abroad
Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use
Shamkhal Eyvazov was detained for his religious activity.
In April 2018, customs officials arrested Eyvazov, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM), and his brother, Migdad Eyvazov, on their way from Iran. Shamkhal Eyvazov, a theologian, had studied in Qom, Iran. He 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).
On an unspecified date, Eyvazov was reportedly released from prison.
"Список политзэков в Азербайджане сократился на десять человек" Caucasian Knot
"List of Political Prisoners...On 10 December 2021" Institute for Peace and Democracy
Additional Name(s): Эльшан Аббасов
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a
Sentence: 2 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/3/2022
Date of Sentencing: August/30/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief Religious Freedom Advocacy Religious Instruction & Teaching
Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use
Elshan Abbasov is imprisoned for his religious activity.
On March 3, 2022, plainclothes officers in Barda arrested Abbasov, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM). Activists believe his arrest was tied to his religious activities, educational activities, and activism for religious freedom rights. Abbasov 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).
On August 30, 2022, the Ganja Grave Crimes Court sentenced Abbasov to two years and six months 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) after lightening the original drug trafficking charge prosecutors brought forward.
Abbasov had been previously imprisoned for protesting the ban on wearing hijabs in school.
"List of Political Prisoners...On 1 December 2023" Institute for Peace and Democracy
"'Bilirdim ki, işgəncə ilə boynuma qoyacaqlar...'" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
“Активист Эльшан Аббасов задержан в Азербайджане” Caucasian Knot
“The court took Elshan Abbasov into custody for a period of 4 months /UPDATED/” Turan.az