Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: May/23/2023
Date of Release: October/18/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Treason & Sedition
Jaime Iván Montesinos Sauceda was detained in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.
On May 23, 2023, police arrested Montesinos Sauceda, the parish priest of San Juan Pablo II in Matagalpa. Montesinos Sauceda is reportedly charged with treason and committing acts to undermine Nicaragua's independence and integrity. His arrest came amid a crackdown on the Roman Catholic Church and its leaders for their criticism of the government's policies, human rights record, and religious freedom conditions.
On October 18, 2023, Montesinos Sauceda was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.
Additional Name(s): شهدخت خانجانی
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Date of Detainment: May/29/2023
Date of Release: June//2023
Current Status: Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Illegal Assembly Public Disorder Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Shahdokht Khanjani was detained in relation to her religious belief or activity.
On May 29, 2023, authorities arrested Khanjani at her residence in Samnan in relation to her being a Baha'i. The authorities also searched Khanjani's residence and confiscated personal items belonging to her and her family.
In June 2023, Khanjani was reportedly released from prison.
In September 2023, it was reported that Khanjani was sentenced to 16 years in prison on multiple charges, including ten years for forming a group with the intent to disrupt security, five years for assembly and collusion, and one year for propaganda against the regime.
In January 2024, the Semnan Court of Appeal partially upheld Khanjani's sentence. The court sentenced her to ten years in prison for “forming groups to act against national security” and one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime." It also dropped her sentence for "propagating the Baha'i sect" originally handed down in September. Additionally, it annulled a fine and a 15-year deprivation of social rights. Khanjani is expected to serve ten years in prison as the sentences run concurrently.
Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
USCIRF Commissioners Susie Gelman and Eric Ueland, Tweet, February 12, 2024
"Baha'i Citizen Shahdokht Khanjani Faces Eleven-Year Sentence Upheld on Appeal" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Long-Term Prison Sentence Upheld for Iranian Baha'i" Iran Wire
"شهدخت خانجانی، شهروند بهایی، بهطور غیابی به ۱۶ سال حبس محکوم شد" Voice of America (VOA)
ARAM Iran, Tweet, September 9, 2023
"Baha'i Citizen Shahdokht Khanjani Arrested in Semnan" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
Additional Name(s): Alijon Mirganiev
Gender: Male
Current Location: Regime Prison No. 12, Navoi Region
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 6 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/22/2022
Date of Sentencing: October/18/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Religious Activity Travel Abroad
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Crimes Involving Minors Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use Extremism Illegal Migration & Entry/Exit of Country
Alijon Mirganiyev is imprisoned for his religious activities.
On June 22, 2022, authorities detained Mirganiyev at Tashkent Airport and accused him of participating in a banned "extremist" organization after tricking him into returning to Uzbekistan. Mirganiyev and his family had moved to Tukey in 2013 after Mirganiyev completed a 2011 prison sentence tied to his peaceful religious activities. Upon his most recent arrest, Mirganiyev was charged with the "creation, management, and participation in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, or other banned organizations" (Art. 244-2 UCC), "illegal exit from or entry into Uzbekistan" (Art. 223-2 UCC), and other drug related charges tied to children and trafficking.
On October 18, 2022, the Zangiota District Criminal Court sentenced Mirganiyev to seven years in prison.
On March 10, 2023, the Tashkent Regional Court heard Mirganiyev's appeal and reduced his sentence to six years and six months, finding the drug and trafficking related charges unsubstantiated.
On April 12, 2023, Mirganiyev was transferred to regime prison No. 12 in Navoi Region.
While living in Turkey, Uzbek authorities harassed Mirganiyev and his family and, in 2019, unsuccessfully attempted to extradite him.