Additional Name(s): Niloufar Hamedi, نیلوفر حامدی
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September/22/2022
Date of Release: January/14/2024
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations Women’s Rights
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Niloofar Hamedi was imprisoned for reporting on religious freedom conditions.
On September 22, 2022, authorities raided the home of Hamedi and arrested her in relation to her reporting on the hospitalization and death of Mahsa Amini. Amini's death at the hands of morality police for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly sparked nationwide protests opposing the state's policy of mandatory religious veiling. Hamedi was one of the first journalists to cover Amini's story and published a photo of her parents hugging in the hospital that spread rapidly online. Hamedi has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement.
On October 28, 2022, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the intelligence agency of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard accused Hamedi and another journalist of planning to orchestrate nationwide protests with their reporting as agents of foreign intelligence agencies.
In November 2022, a government official revealed that Hamedi had been charged with "colluding with the intention of acting against national security and propaganda against the state."
On May 30, 2023, the judiciary began Hamedi's trial.
In October 2023, it was reported that the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced Hamedi to seven years in prison for "collaborating with the hostile U.S.," five years in prison for "acting against national security," and one year in prison for "propaganda against the regime." Following appeal, Hamedi would serve seven years in prison as the sentences run concurrently.
Hamedi had previously reported on another woman arrested for allegedly wearing improper hijab.
On January 14, 2024, Hamedi was granted temporary release from Evin Prison on bail pending an appeal for her sentence. Iranian state media reports that she is barred from leaving the country.
Related Cases: Mahsa Amini, Sepideh Rashnu, Elaheh Mohammadi
Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
USCIRF Commissioners Susie Gelman and Eric Ueland, Tweet, January 22, 2024
"Iranian Journalists Jailed Over Amini Coverage Granted 'Temporary' Release On Bail" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"International Sports Press Body Halfheartedly Condemns Jailing Iranian Journalists" IranWire
"Journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi Sentenced to a Combined 25 Years in Prison" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Journalists Who Reported on Mahsa Jina Amini’s Killing Sentenced to Long Prison Terms" Center for Human Rights in Iran
"Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi sentenced" Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
"Iran Hands Down Prison Terms To Two Journalists Over Amini Coverage" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"رأی بدوی؛ الهه محمدی و نیلوفر حامدی به احکام سنگین حبس محکوم شدند" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"The Sham Trials of Two Iranian Women Journalists" Iran Wire
"Iran Charges Two Female Journalists Who Broke Story About Amini's Death" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Iran charges female journalists who helped break Amini’s story with being CIA spies" Washington Post
"Iranian journalist who broke news on Mahsa Amini pays heavy price" Reuters
"Journalist Who Reported Mahsa Amini's Hospitalization Held in Solitary Confinement" Iran Wire
Additional Name(s): Andrey Valeriyevich Vlasov,
Gender: Male
Current Location: Medical-Penitentiary Facility No. 16, Kemerovo
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Health Concerns: Disability
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/12/2020
Date of Sentencing: May/23/2022
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 Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Andrey Vlasov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On July 12, 2020, authorities in Prokopievsk detained Vlasov reportedly for holding discussions about the Bible. Authorities searched Vlasov's home and reportedly seized Bibles and electronics.
On July 14, 2020, Vlasov was placed under house arrest.
On May 23, 2022, the Central District Court of Prokopyevsk sentenced Vlasov to seven 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). Vlasov is taken into custody following the verdict.
On July 26, 2022, the Kemerovo Regional Court upheld Vlasov's sentence.
On August 27, 2022, Vlasov was taken to a medical facility after suffering from bilateral pneumonia. He was later diagnosed with tuberculosis.
On February 7, 2023, the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction (Kemerovo) upheld Vlasov's sentence.
Vlasov is reportedly disabled and suffers from heart disease.
Vlasov is married with one child.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Andrey Vlasov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Vlasov in Prokopevsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in the Russian Federation July 2023
"Свидетель Иеговы из Прокопьевска рассказал об ухудшении состояния здоровья в колонии" OVD-Info
"Cassation approved the cruel sentence to Andrei Vlasov - 7 years in prison. At the same time, according to the law, the health of a believer does not allow him to be detained" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
USCIRF Spotlight Podcast: Russia’s Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses October 2022
"A Kemerovo Appeals Court Upheld Andrey Vlasov's Sentence: a Seven-Year Imprisonment for His Faith in God" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Kemerovo Region Disabled Person, Andrey Vlasov, Was Handed a Seven-Year Penal Colony Sentence for Holding Bible-Based Discussions" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Wave of Searches of Believers in the Kemerovo Region. At Least One Person With Disability Was Detained for 48 Hours" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): John Kurmoyarov, Dmitry Valeryevich Kurmoyarov, Иоанну Курмоярову
Gender: Male
Current Location: Kresty-2 Prison, St. Petersburg
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox
Health Concerns: Hypertension
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/7/2022
Date of Sentencing: August/31/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Ioann Kurmoyarov is imprisoned for his religious beliefs.
On June 7, 2022, authorities arrested Kurmoyarov, a hieromonk, after he posted several videos on his YouTube channel outlining his religious opposition to Russia’s war in Ukraine. In the videos, he reportedly said that "those who have unleashed aggression will not be in heaven" and "if you are not disturbed by what is going on in Ukraine, this outrage, then…you are not Christians". Authorities also seized his cassock, two icons, a cross, and his electronic devices from his home. Kurmoyarov was charged with "public dissemination, under the guise of credible statements, of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens [and] maintain international peace and security, as well as about the exercise by state bodies of the Russian Federation of their powers outside the territory of the Russian Federation for those purposes…for reasons of political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or for reasons of hatred or enmity against any social group" (Art. 207.3-2d RCC).
In March 2023, it was reported that Kurmoyarov's health had been deteriorating in prison. Kurmoyarov alleged in court that his requests for doctors' appointments had not been fulfilled. He also stated that his hearing and sight have gotten worse.
On August 31, 2023, the Kalininsky District Court of St. Petersburg sentenced Kurmoyarov to three years in prison and prohibitted him from publishing online for two years.
On February 15, 2024, the St. Petersburg City Court upheld Kurmoyarov's sentence.
Kurmoyarov reportedly has hypertension.
Photo attributed to Memorial
"Иеромонаху Иоанну Курмоярову утвердили приговор по делу о военных «фейках» — три года колонии" OVD-Info
USCIRF Commissioners Abraham Cooper and Susie Gelman, Tweet, September 1, 2023
"Иеромонаха Иоанна Курмоярова приговорили к трем годам колонии по делу о военных «фейках»" OVD-Info
"Священнику Иоанну Курмоярову запросили 7 лет колонии по делу о "фейках"" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Иеромонаху Иоанну Курмоярову запросили семь лет колонии по делу о военных «фейках»" OVD-Info
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in the Russian Federation July 2023
"В Петербурге против бывшего священника возбуждено уголовное дело о «фейках» о Вооруженных силах РФ" SOVA Center
USCIRF Hearing: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for Religious Freedom March 15, 2023
"Священнику Иоанну Курмоярову до конца мая продлили срок содержания в СИЗО по делу о «фейках»" OVD-Info
"Священнику Иоанну Курмоярову до февраля 2023 года продлили арест по делу о «фейках» про армию" OVD-Info
“RUSSIA: Two priests on trial for opposing Russia's war in Ukraine” Forum 18
“RUSSIA: Orthodox priest detained for opposing war ‘outraged by absurdity of accusations’” Forum 18