Additional Name(s): Aleksander Seredkin, Aleksandr Ivanovich Seredkin, Серёдкин Александр Иванович
Gender: Male
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: November/15/2022
Date of Sentencing: November/15/2022
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 Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Aleksandr Seredkin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On April 19, 2019, authorities detained Seredkin after executing raids on Jehovah Witnesses homes in Novosibirsk and other regions. Seredkin was accused of "organizing meetings and directing the reading and discussion" of religious literature.
On April 21, 2019, Seredkin was placed under house arrest.
On October 16, 2019, Seredkin's house arrest was lifted.
On November 15, 2022, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Novosibirsk sentenced Seredkin 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). Seredkin was taken into custody following the verdict.
On June 16, 2023, the Novosibirsk Regional Court upheld Seredkin's sentence.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Aleksandr Seredkin" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Seredkin case in Novosibirsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Court of Appeal in Novosibirsk Upheld The Harsh Sentence Against Pensioner Aleksandr Seredkin - 6 Years in a Penal Colony for His Faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Свидетель Иеговы из Новосибирска приговорен к реальному сроку" SOVA Center
"In Novosibirsk, 67-year-old Aleksandr Seredkin Was Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Reading The Bible" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"On the evening of April 19 in 3 regions of Russia there were intrusions on believers, 5 people were detained" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Nov 15, 2022
USCIRF Condemns Iran’s Death Sentences for Protesters Asserting Religious Freedom and Other Rights
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) deplores Iran’s pursuit of death sentences on religiously-grounded charges against protesters asserting their freedom of religion or belief. Iran has indicted over 2,000 protesters since the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini on September 16 for wearing “improper hijab,” a legal standard based on an interpretation of religion and imposed on Iranian women without their consent. On November 14, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced a protester to death on charges including “enmity against God” and “corruption on Earth,” both of which are grounded in religious interpretations. Scores of protesters face similar sentences, raising credible concerns of large-scale executions of protesters in Iran in the coming weeks.
“Iran’s desperate attempt to violently repress Iranians seeking fundamental guarantees of freedom of religion or belief is deplorable,” said USCIRF Commissioner Sharon Kleinbaum. “We applaud the United Nations Human Rights Council for scheduling a special session on Iran and urge the U.S. government to continue to advocate for a UN investigative mechanism to hold accountable Iranian government officials complicit in religious freedom and related human rights violations. Furthermore, the Biden administration must pursue every available measure to support Iranians asserting their internationally-guaranteed human rights and sanction officials responsible for these ongoing and violent crackdowns.”
Since the outbreak of protests, Iran’s government has escalated its use of violent force against protesters calling for greater religious freedom and other rights. Security forces have used live fire, including against children. Detained protesters have reported incidents of sexual harassment in Ward 209 of Evin Prison as well as threats of sexual assault and rape by interrogators.
“Despite government violence, arrests, mass trials, and death sentences, the Iranian people’s continuing struggle for religious freedom is inspiring,” said USCIRF Commissioner Eric Ueland. “The United States should lead the international community in uplifting and amplifying the voices of Iranians calling for greater freedom of religion or belief.”
In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. State Department designate Iran as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF recently published a country update on religious freedom conditions in Iran so far in 2022, held a hearing on “State-Sanctioned Religious Freedom Violations and Coercion by Saudi Arabia and Iran,” highlighted the situation for religious prisoners of conscience in Iran on a USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, and published a report with an accompanying event on Religious Propaganda in Iran.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].
Additional Name(s): پروا بهداد
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: November/14/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Parwa Behdad was detained for her religious belief and activity.
On November 14, 2022, authorities in Isfahan arrested Behdad from her home reportedly in relation to her being Baha'i. Authorities reportedly seized personal belongings as well as religious books.
On December 18, 2022, Behdad was reportedly released on bail.
Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in Iran September 2023
Zhinoos Forootan | ژینوس فروتن, Tweet, December 19, 2022
"Baha’i Citizen Parwa Behdad Arrested" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"پروا بهداد، شهروند بهائی بازداشت شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)