Jan 21, 2022

Across central and eastern Africa there are many dynamics at play, including political crises and violent insurgencies, both of which pose challenges to freedom of religion or belief. These trends and developments are especially concerning in countries such as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Kenya.

USCIRF Policy Analysts Mohy Omer and Madeline Vellturo join us to elaborate on increasing problematic government actions towards religious leaders and several religious communities in these and other countries in the region.

 

Additional Name(s): Maksim Viktorovich Puygin, Maksim Puigin, Puigin Maxim Viktorovich, Пуйгин Максим Викторович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 11 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September/6/2016

Date of Sentencing: December/11/2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism

Maksim Puygin

Extra Bio Info:

Maksim Puygin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On September 6, 2016, authorities arrested Puygin after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities reportedly searched his home and confiscated Hizb ut-Tahrir literature. Puygin and his colleagues reportedly came together to study religious literature and sought to attract new members, all of which are ordinary religious activities.

On December 11, 2017, the Volga District Military Court sentenced Puygin to 11 years in prison for “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC).

Puygin has two children.

Related Cases: Aidar Aidarbekov, Albert Shafiyev, Nail Miniakhmetov, Radik Imangulov

Sources:

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: Death

Date of Detainment: May//2020

Date of Sentencing: January/19/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Conversion Hate Speech

Aneeqa Ateeq

Extra Bio Info:

Aneeqa Ateeq is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

In May 2020, authorities arrested Ateeq after she was accused of posting/sending sketches of religious figures via WhatsApp and using Facebook to send blasphemous materials to others.

On January 19, 2022, a Rawalpindi court sentenced Ateeq to death for "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC).  She was also sentenced to ten years in prison for "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC), three years in prison for "posing as Muslim" (Sec. 298-C PPC), and seven years in prison for "inciting interfaith hatred" (Sec. 11 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016).  Her prison sentences are reported to run concurrently. She was also fined 200,000 rupees.

Ateeq is married.

Sources:
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