Additional Name(s): Мустафаев Марлен Рамисович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 17 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/9/2022
Date of Sentencing: November/30/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Religious Activity Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Marlen Mustafayev is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.
On February 9, 2022, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, arrested Mustafayev and other Crimean Tatar activists after accusing them of being in the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Prosecutors alleged that Mustafayev recruited members to the organization, held meetings about it, and possessed its literature.
On November 30, 2022, the Southern Military District Court sentenced Mustafayev to 17 years in prison for "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
Related Cases: Ametkhan Abdulvapov, Ernes Seytosmanov, Ansar Osmanov
Photo attributed to Memorial
"Мустафаев Марлен Рамисович" Memorial
USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Russia-Occupied Territories of Ukraine U.S. Department of State
"Мы считаем политзаключённым ещё одного крымчанина, осуждённого по делу «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial
"Крымскотатарского активиста Марлена Мустафаева приговорили к 17 годам лишения свободы" Memorial
"Crimean Tatar Activist Gets 17 Years In Prison in Russia On Terrorism Charges" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
Additional Name(s): Февзиев Раиф Энверович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 17 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/17/2021
Date of Sentencing: January/12/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Religious Activity Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Raif Fevziyev is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.
On August 17, 2021, authorities in Russian-occupied, Crimea, Ukraine, detained five people, including Fevziyev, an imam, after searching their homes. Authorities accused Fevziyev of organizing a banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization cell. Accusations reportedly stem from a recording of Fevziyev discussing religious issues in December 2015.
On January 12, 2023, the Southern Military District Court sentenced Fevziyev to 17 years in prison for "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
Related Cases: Dzhebbar Bekirov, Zavur Abdullayev, Rustem Murasov, Rustem Tairov
Photo attributed to Memorial
"Февзиев Раиф Энверович" Memorial
USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
"New brutal sentence in Russia’s 'liquidation of all Crimean Tatar and other Ukrainian dissenters' in occupied Crimea" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Крымского имама Раифа Февзиева приговорили к 17 годам лишения свободы" Memorial
"Crimean Tatar Religious Cleric Gets 17 Years In Prison in Russia" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Февзиев Раиф Энверович" Memorial
Mar 14, 2023
USCIRF Releases New Report on India’s State-Level Anti-Conversion Laws
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
India’s State-Level Anti-Conversion Laws – This issue update examines the common features of India’s 12 state-level anti-conversion laws and explains how those features are inconsistent with international human rights law. Common features of these laws include prohibitions on conversions, notifying the government of one’s intent to convert, and burden-shifting provisions that presume an individual accused of violating an anti-conversion law is guilty. Each of these features violates rights protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The report concludes that repealing India’s state-level anti-conversion laws is necessary to comply with international human rights law and to help prevent the country’s poor religious freedom conditions from further deteriorating.
In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate India as a country of particular concern (CPC) for its particularly severe violations of religious freedom. USCIRF also published a 2022 country update on religious freedom conditions in India and a Spotlight Podcast episode on anti-conversion laws and growing intolerance in India.
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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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].