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

Extra Bio Info:

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.

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

Extra Bio Info:

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.

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

Extra Bio Info:

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.