Additional Name(s): Amin Khaki, امین خاکی
Gender: Male
Current Location: Karaj
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 3 Years' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/10/2021
Date of Sentencing: June//2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Ameen Khaki is imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert.
In November 2020, authorities raided Khaki's home and confiscated his personal belongings, including religious texts.
In May 2021, it was reported that Khaki had been charged with "spreading propaganda and deviant educational activities opposing Islam” (Art. 500 IPC).
During the trial process at an unknown date, Khaki was arrested and subsequently released on bail after paying 250 million tomans.
In June 2021, Khaki was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 40 million tomans.
In August 2021, Khaki's sentence was reduced to three years in prison.
On November 10, 2021, Khaki was summoned to prison in Karaj to begin his sentence.
In January 2022, it was reported that Khaki would received a ten-day leave from prison to celebrate Christmas.
Khaki was previously arrested in 2017 for similar offenses related to his religious practice.
Amin is reportedly a pastor.
Photo attributed to Article 18
"Christian converts granted belated Christmas break from prison" Article 18
"Three Christian Converts Summoned in Karaj to Endure Their Sentences" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"احضار سه نوکیش مسیحی برای تحمل مجموعا ۹ سال زندان" Article 18
"Iranian Christians request prayer for Milad Gourdazi, Amin Khaki and Alireza Nourmohammadi, who have been summoned to prison to serve three-year sentences." Middle East Concern
"Three Christian converts sentenced to prison in Karaj" Iran News Wire
"Christian converts charged under Iran’s newly amended ‘propaganda’ law" Article 18
"Amin Khaki" United for Iran
Additional Name(s): Milad Goodarzi, میلاد گودرزی
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 3 Years' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/10/2021
Date of Sentencing: June//2021
Date of Release: March/4/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Milad Goudarzi was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert.
In November 2020, authorities raided Goudarzi's home and confiscated his personal belongings, including religious texts.
In May 2021, it was reported that Goudarzi had been charged with "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).
During the trial process at an unknown date, Goudarzi was arrested and subsequently released on bail after paying 250 million tomans.
In June 2021, Goudarzi was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 40 million tomans.
In August 2021, Goudarzi's sentence was reduced to three years in prison.
On November 10, 2021, Goudarzi was summoned to prison in Karaj to begin his sentence.
In January 2022, it was reported that Goudarzi would received a ten-day leave from prison to celebrate Christmas.
On March 4, 2023, Milad Goodarzi was reportedly released from prison.
Goudarzi was previously arrested in 2017 for similar offenses related to his religious practice.
Photo attributed to Article 18
"Iran: Another Christian convert pardoned and released" Middle East Concern
"Christian converts granted belated Christmas break from prison" Article 18
"Three Christian Converts Summoned in Karaj to Endure Their Sentences" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"احضار سه نوکیش مسیحی برای تحمل مجموعا ۹ سال زندان" Article 18
"Iranian Christians request prayer for Milad Gourdazi, Amin Khaki and Alireza Nourmohammadi, who have been summoned to prison to serve three-year sentences." Middle East Concern
"Three Christian converts sentenced to prison in Karaj" Iran News Wire
"Christian converts charged under Iran’s newly amended ‘propaganda’ law" Article 18
"Milad Goudarzi" United for Iran
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nigeria
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Health Concerns: Joint and knee issues
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: November/4/2021
Date of Release: February/3/2022
Current Status: 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: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Luka Binniyat was detained for his reporting on religious groups and religious freedom conditions.
On November 4, 2021, authorities arrested Binniyat, a journalist for the Epoch Times, in relation to an article he wrote on October 29, 2021. In the article, Binniyat reports on the government's failure to make arrests following a violent attack the month before that resulted in the deaths of 38 Christians. The article also includes a quote from a local senator from the Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone, criticizing the Kaduna State government for using a high-ranking Christian public official to "cover up" targeted violence based on religion in Southern Kaduna.
On November 8, 2021, Binniyat was charged with allegedly using a computer to transmit knowingly false information "for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another" (Section 24(B)).
On November 9, 2021, Binniyat's request for bail was rejected.
On November 23, 2021, Binniyat's request for bail was denied again.
On January 27, 2022, Binniyat was reportedly granted bail. Early reports indicated that he had been released on this date, but additional reporting indicated that onerous bail conditions prevented him from being released.
On February 3, 2022, Binniyat was reportedly released from prison.
Binniyat's health deteriorated while imprisoned. He reportedly suffers from an ailment in his joints and one of his knees that required him to use crutches to walk.
Binniyat is reportedly married with six children.
USCIRF Tweet May 3, 2022
"Epoch Times Reporter Released on Bail From Nigerian Prison" Epoch Times
"UPDATE: After 91 days in prison, Luka Binniyat is free" Christian Solidarity International
"Nigerian authorities release journalist after 84 days in detention for reporting on attacks against Christians" Christian Post
"Ailing reporter held without trial for nearly three months in central Nigeria" Reporters Without Borders
"Binniyat Under “Persecution, Not Prosecution” Says Defense Counsel" International Christian Concern
USCIRF Commissioner Tony Perkins, Tweet, November 17, 2021
"Nigerian journalist Luka Binniyat detained over complaint by Kaduna state official" Committee to Protect Journalists
"In Nigeria, Police Decry Massacres as ‘Wicked’ but Make No Arrests" Epoch Times