Additional Name(s): Abdukhalil Abdukhamidovich Abduzhabbarov
Gender: Male
Current Location: Kyzylorda
Perpetrator: Kazakhstan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/18/2017
Date of Sentencing: August/16/2017
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Transnational Repression
Nature of Charges: Hate Speech
Abdukhalil Abduzhabbarov
Extra Bio Info:
Abdukhalil Abduzhabbarov is imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.
On February 18, 2017, Kazakh authorities arrested Abduzhabbarov, an imam, after extraditing him from Saudi Arabia. His arrest reportedly stemmed from sermons and talks he gave between 2004 and 2006.
On August 16, 2017, the Oral City Court sentenced Abduzhabbarov to eight years in prison for “incitement of social, national, ancestral, racial, class or religious discord” (Art. 164-3 Old KCC). It also froze his bank accounts.
On November 15, 2018, Abduzhabbarov's appeal was rejected.
Reporting from 2018 asserts that Abduzhabbarov has been kept in solitary confinement since his arrest. He is believed to be serving his sentence in Kyzylorda.
Abduzhabbarov is married with ten children. His meetings with his family have been reportedly limited to twice a year.
Additional Name(s): Galymzhan Ramazanovich Abilkairov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Kazakhstan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years, 7 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: April/23/2018
Date of Sentencing: October/19/2018
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Online Activity Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism
Galymzhan Abilkairov
Extra Bio Info:
Galymzhan Abilkairov is imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.
On April 23, 2018, authorities arrested Abilkairov reportedly following an investigation into sermons he posted online about Islam.
On October 19, 2018, the Burabai District Court sentenced Abilkairov to seven years and seven months in prison for “promotion of terrorism or public calls for making of the act of terrorism…with use of mass media or networks of telecommunications” (Art. 256-2 KCC). His back accounts were also frozen.
On December 26, 2018, Abilkairov's appeal was rejected.
Prior to his conviction, Abilkairov was being held at the Investigation Prison in Kokshetau. It is unclear where he is being held now.
Abilkairov has a wife and son.
Additional Name(s): Dilmurat Makhamatov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Kazakhstan
Ethnic Group: Uzbek
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December/19/2018
Date of Sentencing: May/2/2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression
Nature of Charges: Hate Speech Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism
Dilmurat Makhamatov
Extra Bio Info:
Dilmurat Sultanmuratovich Makhamatov is imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.
On December 19, 2018, Kazakh authorities arrested Makhamatov after reportedly forcing him to return under false pretenses to Kazakhstan from Saudi Arabia, his home for nearly two decades. They were reportedly investigating comments he made about Islam that were posted online.
On May 2, 2019, the Al-Farabi District Court in Shymkent sentenced Makhamatov to eight years in prison for “incitement of social, national, patrimonial, racial, class or religious discord…by group of persons” (Art. 174-2 KCC) and “promotion of terrorism or public calls for making of the act of terrorism…with use of mass media or networks of telecommunications” (Art. 256-2 KCC). His bank accounts were also frozen.
On June 26, 2019, Makhamatov's appeal was denied.
Prior to his conviction, Makhamatov was being held at the Investigation Prison in Shymkent. It is unclear where he is being held now.
Makhamatov has two wives and nine children.