Gender: Male

Current Location: Central Jail Sahiwal

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Acquitted

Sentence: Death on Appeal; Originally Life Imprisonment

Date of Sentencing: July//2013

Date of Release: November/13/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Sajjad Masih Gill

Extra Bio Info:

Sajjad Masih Gill was imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

On an unspecified date, authorities arrested Gill, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist community, after he was accused of sending a text message that disparaged the Prophet Muhammad in late 2011.

In July 2013, the court of Gojra, Punjab, sentenced Gill to life in prison for "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC).

Following his sentencing, members of Gill's family and attorneys have faced threats and violence.  In 2015, his brother and nephew reported being attacked after visiting Gill in prison.  In 2016, two lawyers reported receiving threats by armed men.  

In March 2021, the Lahore High Court accepted a petition submitted by prosecutors to resentence Gill to death.

On October 26, 2021, a two-judge division bench of the Lahore High Court acquitted Gill reportedly due to insufficient evidence. 

On November 13, 2021, Gill was released.

Sources:

Oct 26, 2021

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Violations in Russia’s Republic of Chechnya

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report on religious freedom violations in the Russian Federation’s Republic of Chechnya:

Russia Issue Update – The government of Chechnya—a tiny ethnic enclave in the North Caucasus region of Russia—is a highly authoritarian regime that perpetrates a wide array of human rights abuses, including severe violations of religious freedom. This report focuses on Chechnya as an example of the egregious religious repression in Russia. The dictatorship of Ramzan Kadyrov maintains hegemony through the imposition of a purported “traditional” version of Islam, which falsely claims to defend local belief and culture, and combat violent extremism. In reality, Kadyrov has coopted Chechen religion and culture to support his brutal regime, which violates the secular constitution of the Russian Federation and international standards of freedom of religion or belief.

In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF again recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Russia as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF’s new Chechnya report presents analysis in support of this recommendation by focusing on one particular region of Russia’s troubled religious freedom landscape. Religious freedom conditions in Chechnya are among the worst in the world, and the Russian government is ultimately responsible for them.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Health Concerns: Elderly

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: July/20/2011

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Tesfazion Gebremichael

Extra Bio Info:

Tesfazion Gebremichael is detained in relation to his religious belief and activity. 

On July 20, 2011, authorities arrested Gebremichael for sharing his religious beliefs with others.

Gebremichael's advanced age - now into his 80s - raises concerns about his health and wellbeing within prison.

Gebremichael is married with four children

Sources:
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