Additional Name(s): Mahnaz Jannesar, مهناز جان نثار
Gender: Female
Current Location: Bandar Abbas Prison
Perpetrator: Iran
Ethnic Group: Fars
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: December//2020
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly
Mahnaz Jan Nesar was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In April 2017, authorities arrested Nesar and several other Baha’is in Bandar Abbas reportedly for attending Baha’i gatherings as well as engaging in other communal religious activities. There are also reporting indicating they were accused of sharing human rights violations against Baha’is with foreign media organizations.
In June 2017, Nesar was released on bail.
In December 2020, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Abbas sentenced Nesar to two years in prison for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC).
In February 2021, Branch 2 of the Hormozgan Court of Appeals upheld Nesar’s sentence.
Later in 2021, Nesar was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence and was transferred to Bandar Abbas Prison.
In April 2021, Nesar was granted a short leave from prison. She returned days later.
On an unspecified date, Nesar was released from prison reportedly after completing her sentence.
Related Cases: Maral Rasti, Arash Rasekhi, Mehrallah Afshar, Nasim Ghanvatian
Photo attributed to Voice of America (VOA)
“Mahnaz Jan Nesar” United for Iran
“با پایان مرخصی؛ هشت شهروند بهائی به زندان بندرعباس بازگشتند”Human Rights Activists New Agency (HRANA)
“Iranian Baha’i women jailed to serve prison terms for their faith” Iran Human Rights Monitor
“مارال راستی و مهناز جان نثار، دو شهروند بهایی به زندان بندرعباس منتقل شدند” Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
“Source: Iran Summons 8 Baha’is to Prison for Alleged Communication with Western Media” Voice of America (VOA)
“Iran sentences 8 Bahais to 14 years of prison in southern city” Iran News Wire
“Seven Baha’is Arrested in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm by Ministry of Intelligence” Iran Press Watch
Additional Name(s): U Pinnyasiha, Shwe Nya War Sayadaw, ပညာသီဟ, ရွှေညဝါဆရာတော် ဦးပညာသီဟ
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Burma
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Theravada
Health Concerns: Liver problems
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: February/1/2021
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence
Shwe Nya War was detained in relation to his religious freedom advocacy.
On February 1, 2021, military forces detained War, a monk, following the military’s overthrow of the government. Prior to his arrest, War was known for opposing religious nationalism in Burma.
In November 2022, War was reportedly released from Yangon’s Insein Prison under amnesty. He had been reportedly charged with “intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility.”
War reportedly suffers from liver problems.
Photo attributed to Htoo Tay Zar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
USCIRF Country Update: Burma November 2021
“Burma Immediately Release Monks Detained as Part of Coup” Burma Human Rights Network
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP (Burma)), Tweet, February 1, 2022
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Burma
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Theravada
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/1/2021
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Ashin Sobitha was imprisoned in relation to his religious freedom advocacy.
On February 1, 2021, military forces detained Sobitha, a monk, following the military’s overthrow of the government. Prior to his arrest, Sobitha was known for opposing religious nationalism in Burma.
Later in February 2021, Sobitha was reportedly sentenced to two years in prison on unspecified charges.
Sobitha's sentence should have ended in February 2023.
USCIRF Country Update: Burma November 2021
“Burma Immediately Release Monks Detained as Part of Coup” Burma Human Rights Network