Additional Name(s): فربد علوی
Gender: Male
Current Location: Evin Prison, Tehran
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: December/4/2022
Date of Release: January/11/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Farbod Alavi was detained for his religious belief and activity.
On December 4, 2022, authorities reportedly arrested Alavi in relation to his being Baha'i. He was sent to Evin Prison.
On January 11, 2023, Alavi was reportedly released on bail.
HRANA English, Tweet, January 12, 2023
"Baha’i Citizen Farbod Alavi Arrested" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"فربد علوی، شهروند بهائی توسط نیروهای امنیتی بازداشت شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
Additional Name(s): وصال ممتازی
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 3 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Insulting Public Officials & Institutions Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Vesal Momtazi was detained for his religious belief and activity.
On December 6, 2022, authorities in Rasht arrested Momtazi in relation to his being Baha'i.
On an unspecified date, Momtazi was released on bail.
On June 13, 2023, Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court reportedly sentenced Momtazi to seven months and 16 days in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” one year and three months in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and three years and six months in prison for “insulting Sharia law.” If his sentence is upheld on appeal, Momtazi would serve three years and six months in prison as his sentences run concurrently.
In August 2023, it was reported that the Gilan Province Court of Appeals had upheld Momtazi's sentence. Momtazi is expected to serve three years and six months in prison as his sentences run concurrently.
Momtazi had reportedly been expelled from Qazvin International University in 2010 for his religious belief.
Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in Iran September 2023
"Baha’i Couple’s Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Baha’i Couple Faces Nine-Year and Six-Month Combined Sentence" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Baha’i citizen Vesal Momtazi Arrested in Rasht" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"وصال ممتازی، شهروند بهائی بازداشت شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
Gender: Male
Current Location: Myitkyina Prison, Kachin State
Perpetrator: Burma
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December/4/2022
Date of Sentencing: April/7/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Terrorism
Hkalam Samson is imprisoned for his religious activity and religious leadership role.
On December 4, 2022, authorities arrested Samson, a pastor and advisor to the Kachin Baptist Convention, at Mandalay International Airport as he attempted to fly to Thailand for medical treatment.
On December 5, 2022, Samson was put on a plane back to Myitkyina in Kachin State, where he was arrested again upon landing.
On December 6, 2022, it was reportedly learned that Samson was facing prosecution in relation to his preaching and speeches made in Bible classes. Samson's charges were unclear. Prior to his arrest, Samson had arranged the funerals of an October military junta airstrike on a Kachin Independence Army concert that killed 60 people. He also attempted to get medical care for those seriously injured in the strike. A month later, he also took part in a prayer meeting commemorating those who died.
On April 7, 2023, authorities in Kachin State sentenced Samson to six years in prison on charges of terrorism, unlawful association, and inciting opposition to the military regime.
On April 17, 2024, authorities released 3,303 prisoners from Mytikyina Prison, including Samson.
On April 18, 2024 authorities rearrested Samson
Samson previously faced prosecution after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss religious freedom in Burma in July 2019.
Photo used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. https://www.rfa.org. Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA.
"Myanmar Christian Leader Rearrested Hours After Release in Amnesty" The Irrawaddy
"Reverend Samson’s Prison Sentence" U.S. Department of State
"Baptist Minister in Myanmar Gets 6 Years in Prison for Opposing Junta" New York Times (NYT)
USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck, Tweet, March 24, 2023
USCIRF Commissioners Abraham Cooper and Mohamed Magid, Tweet, February 27, 2023
USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Magid, Tweet, December 9, 2022
Ned Price, Tweet, December 8, 2022
"Religious leader Hkalam Samson set to be prosecuted by Myanmar’s junta" Radio Free Asia (RFA)
"Myanmar religious leader detained and banned from leaving the country" Radio Free Asia (RFA)
"After Meeting With Trump, a Myanmar Clergyman Could Be Prosecuted" New York Times (NYT)