Additional Name(s): Abgul Suleymanov, Abgul Neymat oglu Suleymanov

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Azerbaijan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 11 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/12/2011

Date of Sentencing: August/10/2012

Date of Release: September/30/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Arms Trafficking & Illicit Use of Weapons Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use Hate Speech Public Disorder

Abqul Suleymanov

Extra Bio Info:

Abqul Suleymanov was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.

On August 12, 2011, authorities arrested Suleymanov, a religious figure, for allegedly creating an extremist religious group without state registration, assisting a foreign state, and trying to incite mass demonstrations. Reporting indicates he was targeted for publicly opposing government policies impacting religious freedom conditions and for calling for protests. Suleymanov was charged with "illegally purchasing, transferring, selling, storing, transporting, and carrying firearms, accessories, supplies, and explosives" (Art. 228.1 ACC), "organizing actions meant to disrupt the social order or actively participating in such actions" (Art. 233 ACC), "illegally purchasing or storing without a purpose of selling narcotics or psychotropic substances in a quantity (amount) exceeding necessary for personal consumption" (Art. 234.1 ACC), and "exciting national, racial or religious hostility...with application of violence or with threat of its application" (Art. 283.2.1 ACC).

On August 10, 2012, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Suleymanov to 11 years in prison.

On January 23, 2013, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld Suleymanov's sentence.

On November 20, 2014, the Supreme Court upheld Suleymanov's sentence.

On September 30, 2022, Suleymanov was released from prison after completing his sentence.

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Additional Name(s): Movsum Mardan oglu Samadov

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Azerbaijan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 12 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: January/7/2011

Date of Sentencing: October/7/2011

Date of Release: January/19/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religiously Based Political Activity

Nature of Charges: Arms Trafficking & Illicit Use of Weapons Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Terrorism Treason & Sedition Unlawful Disobedience

Movsum Samadov

Extra Bio Info:

Movsum Samadov was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions and for his political activity.

On January 7, 2011, authorities arrested Samadov, head of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan, following a traffic stop.  He was initially charged with failing to comply to a lawful order by a police officer (Art. 310.1 CAO); however, the arrest followed a high-profile speech Samadov made days before on January 2, 2011, in which he denounced President Ilham Aliyev over the ban on wearing religious headscarves in schools and other issues facing the country.  The same day Samadov was arrested, the Narimanov District Court sentenced him to 13 days in administrative detention.  During this process, Samadov was reportedly unable to hire a lawyer of his own choosing.

On January 20, 2011, the final day of his administrative detention, Samadov was charged with "preparing a crime" (Art. 28 ACC), "preparing terrorism committed on preliminary arrangement by group of persons, by organized group or criminal community (criminal organization)" (Art. 214.2.1 ACC), "preparing terrorism committed with application of fire-arms or subjects used as a weapon" (Art. 214.2.3 ACC), "illegally purchasing, transferring, selling, storing, transporting, and carrying firearms, accessories, supplies, and explosives committed by organized group" (Art. 228.3 ACC), and "actions directed on violent capture power or violent deduction power" (Art. 278 ACC).

On October 7, 2011, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Samadov to 12 years in prison.

In March 2017, Samadov was reportedly placed in a punishment cell for five days for praying in prison.

On January 19, 2023, Samadov was released after completing his sentence.

On January 24, 2024, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) published an interview with Samadov on the first anniversary of his release from prison. Samadov spoke about the current state of religious freedom in Azerbaijan, his time in prison, and how he is not allowed to leave the country.

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Additional Name(s): Tariq Ahmad Shehzad

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Ahmadiyya

Date of Detainment: September/29/2020

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Online Activity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Conversion Hate Speech

Hafiz Tariq Shehzad

Extra Bio Info:

Hafiz Tariq Shehzad is detained for blasphemy.

On September 29, 2020, authorities arrested Shehzad after accusing him of sharing perceived blasphemous materials. He was charged with several offenses, including "inciting interfaith hatred" (Sec. 11 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016), "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC), and "posing as Muslim" (Sec. 298-C PPC).

On June 29, 2021, the trial court added "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC) and "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC) to the charges against Shehzad.

In October 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released an opinion on Shehzad's detention, calling for his immediate release.

Related Cases: Rohan Ahmad, Malik Usman Ahmad

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