Additional Name(s): پیام ولی

Gender: Male

Current Location: Qezalhasar Prison, Karaj

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 6 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 16 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September/24/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Online Activity Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition

Payam Vali

Extra Bio Info:

Payam Vali is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On September 24, 2022, authorities in Karaj arrested Vali reportedly in relation to his being Baha'i. Security officers reportedly beat him during the arrest as well as his son.

In December 2022, it was reported that authorities had accused Vali of "propaganda against the system through the propagation of the Baha'i faith, propaganda against the holy Islamic law, communication and cooperation with foreign media through interviews and sending news of human rights violations and inciting people to create ongoing protests through the virtual space." Accusations are reportedly in relation to Vali's communications about Baha'i persecution. Vali has also reportedly been denied phone calls to his family and access to a lawyer.

In February 2023, it was reported that the Alborz Revolutionary Court had sentenced to ten years in prison for “collaboration with hostile countries,” five years for “inciting people to commit violence,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” The court also reportedly imposed a two-year travel ban and two years of exile in Yasuj county.

On May 10, 2023, the Alborz Court of Appeals reduced Vali's sentence to six years for “collaboration with adversary countries,” three years and one month for “inciting people to commit violence,” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Vali is expected to serve six years in prison as the sentences run concurrently.

In July 2023, it was reported that the Karaj Revolutionary Court had accused Vali of “spreading falsehood on the Internet through the dissemination of unlawful content.”

Sources:

Sep 28, 2022

USCIRF Condemns Recent Attacks on Worshippers in Nigeria

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned a recent attack by armed bandits against worshippers at a mosque in Zamfara state, Nigeria that reportedly killed at least 15 people.

“This horrific attack on worshippers is just the latest demonstration of how insecurity in Nigeria erodes freedom of religion or belief,” said USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie. “All Nigerians have the right to gather for services and worship together without fear of attack.”

Earlier this month, armed assailants kidnapped dozens of worshippers attending services at another mosque in Zamfara state. In June, an attack attributed to the local Islamic State affiliate killed at least 50 people during a Pentecost Sunday mass at a Catholic Church in Ondo State. In July, armed criminals abducted two priests who were celebrating mass in a rectory in Kaduna state and shot one of them dead.

"Attacks against worshippers in Nigeria are all too common,” said USCIRF Commissioner Frank Wolf. “The U.S. government needs to implement a higher priority and stronger efforts to promote religious freedom in Nigeria and protect congregations from attack. The U.S. Department of State needs a Special Envoy to prioritize these issues and oversee a holistic approach for U.S. policy in Nigeria.”

In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, and Boko Haram as an “entity of particular concern,” or EPC. Earlier today, USCIRF hosted a hearing on “Religious Freedom, Violence, and U.S. Policy in Nigeria.” USCIRF has also produced a recent analysis on Violence and Religious Freedom in Nigeria which includes policy response options for the U.S. government.

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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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].

Sep 23, 2022

Since 2014, the U.S. Department of State has designated Turkmenistan as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. After Turkmenistan’s President stepped down in March of 2022, his son, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, came to power. Despite hopes of a loosening of these highly restrictive regulations on religious practice, they have remained in place. The Government of Turkmenistan continues to appoint Muslim clerics while also surveilling and dictating all religious practice, and punishing nonconformity through imprisonment, torture, and administrative harassment.

Forum 18 News Service editor, Felix Corley, joins us today to discuss Turkmenistan’s highly restrictive religious freedom conditions and its imprisonment of religious prisoners of conscience.

Read USCIRF’s 2022 Annual Report Chapter on Turkmenistan

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