Sep 2, 2022

In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State redesignate China as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. While the U.S. government designated the Chinese government’s ongoing atrocities against Uyghurs as genocide, China continues to severely persecute many different religious groups throughout the country, including Catholic and Protestant Christians.

Founder and President of the ChinaAid Association, Dr. Bob Fu, joins us today to discuss the Chinese Communist Party’s sinicization policy, its treatment of various Christian communities, and other political and social developments within the country.

Read USCIRF’s Factsheet on China’s 2021 Measures on the Management of Religious Clergy

Additional Name(s): انیس سنایی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: August/31/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Education Rights Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Anis Sanaie

Extra Bio Info:

Anis Sanaie was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Sanaie, in Mazandaran province under unclear circumstances. 13 out of the 14 arrested were described as "youth." A majority of the arrests reportedly occurred at a private home where those arrested had been studying and discussing the role of education in social progress.

In September 2022, it was reported that Sanaie was released.

In July 2023, it was reported that the Ghaemshahr Revolutionary Court sentenced Sanaie to two years and one month in prison on allegations of engaging in “educational activities and propaganda at variance and against Islamic Sharia law.”

In November 2023, Branch 9 of the Mazandaran Court of Appeal reduced Sanaie's sentence to a 50-million-toman fine.

Related Cases: Nazanin Goli, Mahsa Fathi, Golbon Fallah, Negar Darabi, Hengameh Alipour, Mani Gholinejad, Samiyeh Gholinejad, Bita Haghighi, Sanaz Hekmat-Shoar, Afnaneh Nematian, Basir Samimi, Mojir Samimi, Sam Samimi

Sources:

Additional Name(s): سام صمیمی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: August/31/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Education Rights Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Sam Samimi

Extra Bio Info:

Sam Samimi was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Samimi, in Mazandaran province under unclear circumstances. 13 out of the 14 arrested were described as "youth." A majority of the arrests reportedly occurred at a private home where those arrested had been studying and discussing the role of education in social progress.

On September 1, 2022, it was reported that Samimi had been released. 

In July 2023, it was reported that the Ghaemshahr Revolutionary Court sentenced Samimi to two years and one month in prison on allegations of engaging in “educational activities and propaganda at variance and against Islamic Sharia law.”

In November 2023, Branch 9 of the Mazandaran Court of Appeal reduced Samimi's sentence to a 50-million-toman fine.

Related Cases: Nazanin Goli, Mahsa Fathi, Golbon Fallah, Negar Darabi, Hengameh Alipour, Mani Gholinejad, Samiyeh Gholinejad, Bita Haghighi, Sanaz Hekmat-Shoar, Afnaneh Nematian, Basir Samimi, Mojir Samimi, Anis Sanaie

Sources:
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