Additional Name(s): Deoria Jail
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: India
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June/11/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Javed Mohammed
Extra Bio Info:
Javed Mohammed is detained for his religious identity, criticizing religious freedom conditions, and community leadership role in protesting religious freedom conditions.
On June 11, 2022, police in Uttar Pradesh arrested Mohammed, a Muslim activist and community leader, after accusing him of organizing protests that turned violent against comments made by the then-active Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson perceived as insulting to the Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Authorities have referred to Mohammed as a key conspirator of the violence, despite Mohammed’s social media activity calling for peace and his prominent leadership role in the community. Mohammed had also been known for his involvement in protests against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and criticism of the BJP and government officials. Mohammed’s wife and one of his daughters were also briefly detained the same day as his arrest.
On June 12, 2022, authorities demolished Mohammed’s home, claiming it was illegal.
On July 16, 2022, the Prayagraj administration reportedly invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Mohammed.
In January 2023, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Mohammed. However, he remained in prison pending other cases against him.
Sources:
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"Prayagraj violence: Activist Javed Mohammed granted bail by Allahabad High Court" Scroll.in
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USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in India November 2022
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“Prayagraj violence: National Security Act invoked against activist Javed Mohammed” Scroll.in
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“Amidst Official Silence, Allahabad Activist Javed Mohammad's Family Discover He Is in Deoria Jail” The Wire
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“Prayagraj Accused Javed Mohammed Has Stood for Peace, Worked Closely With Admin” The Quint
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“UP Police Arrests Javed Mohammad, Calls Him 'Mastermind' of Prayagraj Violence” The Quint
Nov 03
Nov 3rd 10:00am
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Nov 3rd 11:00am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
USCIRF Conversation: Iranian Government Propaganda Against Religious Minorities
Thursday, November 3, 2022
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
Virtual Event
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a virtual discussion of USCIRF’s recent report on Iranian government propaganda and abuses against religious minorities, in light of the brutal crackdowns, arrests, and killings of peaceful protestors against the mandatory religious headscarf (hijab) laws.
Iran’s government uses both traditional and social media to incite intolerance against the country’s many religious minority communities, including Jews, Sunni Muslims, Gonabadi Sufis, Christian converts, and Baha’is. This propaganda promotes false narratives that Iranian religious minorities are disloyal and serves to justify the Iranian government’s ongoing and systematic crackdown on these groups.
The report, which draws on primary source Persian-language material, finds that Iran’s government commonly accuses religious minorities of having ties to foreign states and wishing to sow discord within the country. Iranian propaganda accuses Jews of being responsible for Iran’s economic problems and of being spies for Israel. Sunnis are framed as a demographic threat to the country’s Shi’a majority and therefore a national security threat. Iran’s propaganda falsely accuses Gonabadi Sufis of being a violent sect tied to foreign entities. It calls Christian converts members of a “Zionist evangelist cult” engaged in widespread security efforts against Iran. Baha’is are discussed as a deviant sect of Islam and a treasonous group with deviant moral practices. These messages serve to justify the Iranian government’s ongoing religious freedom violations.
USCIRF Commissioner Eric Ueland led the discussion with Shahin Milani, Executive Director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center and author of the report.
- Eric Ueland, Commissioner, USCIRF
- Shahin Milani, Executive Director, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center
- Scott Weiner, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRF
This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: July/25/2022
Date of Release: November/1/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Conscientious Objection Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Not Applicable
Royal Karimov
Extra Bio Info:
Royal Karimov was detained for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.
On July 25, 2022, officers from the Gadabay District State Service for Mobilization and Conscription detained Karimov and brought him to the police station after summoning him for military service. Upon arriving to the office, Karimov conscientiously objected to military service and instead asked for a alternative civilian service. The following day, Karimov was taken to a military unit in Ganca.
On November 1, 2022, Karimov was released from the military unit in Ganca.