Additional Name(s): Mahnaz Jannesar, مهناز جان ‌نثار

Gender: Female

Current Location: Bandar Abbas Prison

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Sentencing: December//2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly

Mahnaz Jan Nesar

Extra Bio Info:

Mahnaz Jan Nesar was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

In April 2017, authorities arrested Nesar and several other Baha’is in Bandar Abbas reportedly for attending Baha’i gatherings as well as engaging in other communal religious activities. There are also reporting indicating they were accused of sharing human rights violations against Baha’is with foreign media organizations.

In June 2017, Nesar was released on bail.

In December 2020, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Abbas sentenced Nesar to two years in prison for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC).

In February 2021, Branch 2 of the Hormozgan Court of Appeals upheld Nesar’s sentence.

Later in 2021, Nesar was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence and was transferred to Bandar Abbas Prison.

In April 2021, Nesar was granted a short leave from prison. She returned days later.

On an unspecified date, Nesar was released from prison reportedly after completing her sentence. 

Related Cases: Maral Rasti, Arash Rasekhi, Mehrallah Afshar, Nasim Ghanvatian

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Additional Name(s): U Pinnyasiha, Shwe Nya War Sayadaw, ပညာသီဟ, ရွှေညဝါဆရာတော် ဦးပညာသီဟ

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Burma

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Theravada

Health Concerns: Liver problems

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: February/1/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Freedom Advocacy

Nature of Charges: Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence

Shwe Nya War

Extra Bio Info:

Shwe Nya War was detained in relation to his religious freedom advocacy.

On February 1, 2021, military forces detained War, a monk, following the military’s overthrow of the government. Prior to his arrest, War was known for opposing religious nationalism in Burma.

In November 2022, War was reportedly released from Yangon’s Insein Prison under amnesty. He had been reportedly charged with “intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility.” 

War reportedly suffers from liver problems.

Sources:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Burma

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Theravada

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/1/2021

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Freedom Advocacy

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Ashin Sobitha

Extra Bio Info:

Ashin Sobitha was imprisoned in relation to his religious freedom advocacy.

On February 1, 2021, military forces detained Sobitha, a monk, following the military’s overthrow of the government. Prior to his arrest, Sobitha was known for opposing religious nationalism in Burma.

Later in February 2021, Sobitha was reportedly sentenced to two years in prison on unspecified charges.

Sobitha's sentence should have ended in February 2023.

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