Oct 11, 2022
On September 16th, Iran’s morality police arrested 22-year old Mahsa Amini for wearing improper hijab. The morality police reportedly beat Amini until she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and a stroke. Upon learning of her death days later at a hospital in Tehran, Iranians across the country took to the streets in protest of the government’s brutal repression. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran has mandated the hijab in public spaces for women on religious grounds. These laws have been met since that time by peaceful protests, often led by women. Iran’s government has put down these protests by force and is actively doing so now. Iranian security officials are also arresting and beating to death in custody girls who protest mandatory hijab, including Nika Shakarami and Sarina Esmailzadeh.
Marjan Keypour Greenblatt, founder of the ARAM Alliance, joins us today to discuss the interconnection between religious freedom and women’s rights in Iran.
Additional Name(s): Sergey Viktorovich Gromov, Громов Сергей Викторович
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Center No.1, Tatarstan
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years, 1 Month's Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/15/2022
Date of Sentencing: September/14/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Sergey Gromov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On March 15, 2022, authorities in Moscow arrested Gromov at an airport. The following day, his home was searched, and religious texts were confiscated.
On September 14, 2023, the Moskovsky District Court of Kazan sentenced Gromov to six years and one month in prison for “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC) and “collecting funds…intended to finance the organization, preparation and commission of at least one of the crimes of an extremist orientation, or to ensure the activities of an extremist community or an extremist organization” (Art. 282.3-1 RCC). Investigators accused Gromov of holding religious services at his home.
On February 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of Tatarstan approved Gromov's sentence.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Sergey Gromov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Gromov case in Kazan" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"ВС Татарстана утвердил суровый приговор Свидетелю Иеговы из Казани" SOVA Center
"Суд в Казани приговорил к лишению свободы Свидетеля Иеговы" SOVA Center
"A Kazan Court Sent Sergey Gromov to a Penal Colony for Six Years for Holding Religious Meetings" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained in Moscow. His Apartment in Kazan Was Searched" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Anatoliy Vasiliyevich Gorbunov, Горбунов Анатолий Васильевич
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Center No.1, Krasnoyarsk
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/2/2022
Date of Sentencing: February/2/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Anatoliy Gorbunov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On February 2, 2022, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk sentenced Gorbunov to six years in prison for “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC). Gorbunov was accused of holding religious meetings and having discussions about the Bible. He was taken into custody following the verdict.
On June 21, 2022, the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court upheld Gorbunov's sentence.
Gorbunov is married with two children.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Anatoliy Gorbunov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Gorbunov in Krasnoyarsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Court of Appeals Sentenced Anatoliy Gorbunov, a Retiree From Krasnoyarsk, to Serve a Six-Year Sentence in a Penal Colony" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Krasnoyarsk Court Sentenced Anatoliy Gorbunov to a Six-Year Prison Term for Discussing the Bible With Fellow Believers" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Tenth Criminal Case for Christian Convictions in Krasnoyarsk Territory; 62-year-old Believer Accused of Extremism" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia