Additional Name(s): Rupesh Kumar Singh, உரூபேசு குமார் சிங்

Gender: Male

Current Location: Saraikela Jail

Perpetrator: India

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: July/17/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations

Nature of Charges: Arms Trafficking & Illicit Use of Weapons Banned Organization Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Forgery Illegal Assembly Murder & Attempted Murder Public Disorder Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Rupesh Singh

Extra Bio Info:

Rupesh Singh is detained in relation to his reporting on religious and marginalized communities.

On July 17, 2022, police in the Ramgarh district of eastern Jharkhand state arrested Singh, a freelance journalist known for reporting on Adivasi issues, including state-violence against and state complicity in the mistreatment of Adivasis.  Police accused Singh of being involved in Maoist activities. Singh is reportedly charged with “cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property” (Sec. 420 IPC), “forgery of valuable security, will, etc.” (Sec. 467 IPC), “forgery for purpose of cheating” (Sec. 468 IPC), “using as genuine a forged document or electronic record” (Sec. 471 IPC), “being a member of an unlawful association” (Sec. 10 UAPA), unlawful activities (Sec. 13 UAPA), and Section 17 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act.

In August 2022, it was reported that Singh had been additionally charged in two other cases. In an FIR filed at the Jageshwar Police Station, Bokaro district, Jharkhand state, authorities accused Singh carrying out Maoist operations against the state. He was charged with rioting (Sec. 147 IPC), rioting with a deadly weapon (Sec. 148 IPC), unlawful assembly (Sec. 149 IPC), attempted murder (Sec. 307 IPC), "assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty" (Sec. 353 IPC), "attempting to cause explosion, or for making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life or property" (Sec. 4 Explosive Substances Act, 1908), "making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances" (Sec. 5 Explosive Substances Act, 1908), using arms (Sec. 27 Arms Act), “being a member of an unlawful association” (Sec. 10 UAPA), unlawful activities (Sec. 13 UAPA), and Section 17 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act. 

In the second case reported in August 2022, the Rohtas Police of Bihar filed an FIR, accusing Singh of recruiting people to join the banned Maoist party. However, according to Singh's wife, he was not present in Rohtas at the time of the incident because he was reporting on an event in Nagpur. Singh was charged with “conspiracy to commit offences” waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC), "collecting arms" to wage war against the state (Sec. 122A IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), conspiracy (Sec. 120B IPC), and various sections of the UAPA. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is in charge of the investigation.

Singh has reportedly been mistreated while imprisoned. Authorities reportedly deprived Singh of sleep for two night straight with interrogations and housed him briefly in a cell with other prisoners suffering from infectious diseases. 

Singh reportedly suffers from pain and strain in the veins of his legs that become more severe when he experiences mental stress. 

Singh previously spent six months in jail in 2019 for his work reporting on Adivasi issues.

Sources:

Additional Name(s): Mahbubeh Misaghian, محبوبه میثاقیان

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 8 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/2/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Mahboubeh Misaghian

Extra Bio Info:

Mahboubeh Misaghian was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity. 

On June 1, 2020, authorities reportedly arrested Misaghian and searched her home. 

On June 16, 2020, Misaghian was released on bail.

On an unspecified date, Branch 2 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court sentenced Misaghian to two years and eight months in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and eight months in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In October/November 2021, Branch 11 of the Yazd Court of Appeals reportedly acquitted Misaghian of "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and upheld her eight-month sentence for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

On August 2, 2022, Misaghian was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence at Yazd Prison.

On an unspecified date, Misaghian was reportedly released after completing her sentence.

Related Cases: Mitra Bandi Amirabadi, Amin Zolfaghari, Hiwa Yazdan Mehdi Abadi

Sources:

Aug 5, 2022

USCIRF Releases New Report Highlighting Religious Freedom in Pakistan

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Pakistan Country Update – This report examines religious freedom conditions and the growing intolerance for religious diversity fueled by extremism and existing problematic Pakistani legislation, citing recent attacks against religious minorities in the country. Religious minorities or anyone who interprets or practices their faith differently from the majority are subject to frequent attacks and threats, including accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, lynchings, mob violence, forced conversions, and the desecration of their houses of worship and cemeteries. Members of the Shi’a Muslim, Ahmadiyya Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities face increasingly aggressive societal discrimination often propagated by extremist rhetoric and enabled by Pakistani authorities who are unable or unwilling to protect these minorities.

In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. State Department designate Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations.

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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 and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

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