Additional Name(s): سارا احمدی
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Ethnic Group: Fars
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/13/2022
Date of Sentencing: December//2020
Date of Release: May//2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization
Sara Ahmadi was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert.
In June 2019, authorities arrested Ahmadi and her husband, Homayoun Zhaveh, as they were on vacation with some friends. Ahmadi wife was accused of leading a house-church, and her husband was accused of being a member of it. Ahmadi reportedly spent over a month in solitary confinement while detained.
On an unspecified day in 2019, Ahmadi was released on bail.
In November 2020, Ahmadi was sentenced to eight years in prison for "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC) and three years for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC).
In December 2020, Ahmadi's sentence was reportedly reduced to eight years in prison.
In June 2021, Ahmadi was informed that the Supreme Court had rejected her appeal for retrial.
On August 13, 2022, authorities detained Ahmadi after and sent her to Evin prison, possibly to begin serving her sentence.
In May 2023, it was reported that both Ahmadi and her husband were acquitted and released from their combined ten-year prison sentence.
Related Cases: Homayoun Zhaveh
Photo attributed to Article 18
"Parkinson's sufferer and wife acquitted, released from prison" Article 18
"Iranian Christian with Parkinson’s disease and wife detained" Article 18
"بازداشت دو نوکیش مسیحی، پس از حضور در شعبه اجرای احکام" Article 18
"Sara Ahmadi" United for Iran
"Iranian Christian convert with Parkinson’s disease faces prison" Article 18
Additional Name(s): Rolando José Álvarez, Rolando Jose Alvarez Lagos
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Sentence: 26 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/4/2022
Date of Sentencing: February/10/2023
Date of Release: January/14/2024
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition
Rolando Álvarez was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.
On August 4, 2022, police prevented Álvarez, bishop of the Matagalpa diocese, from leaving his home to perform mass at a local cathedral after he criticized the government’s recent closure of several Catholic radio stations and its human rights record. Álvarez remained under de facto house arrest as authorities investigated him for “organizing violent groups” and encouraging them “to carry out acts of hate against the population.”
On August 19, 2022, police arrested Álvarez from his residence. It is reported that he was taken to Managua and placed under house arrest in his parents' home.
In December 2022, a court ordered that Álvarez remain under house arrest on charges of “conspiracy” and “spreading false news." He was also accused of “damaging the Nicaraguan government and society.”
On February 10, 2023, a court sentenced Álvarez to 26 years in prison after he declined to be exiled to the United States in a prisoner release the day before. Álvarez was reportedly convicted of several charges, including treason, undermining national integrity and spreading false news. He was also fined and stripped of his citizenship.
On January 14, 2024, Álvarez was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.
Related Cases: Ramiro Tijerino, Sadiel Eugarrios, Raúl Antonio Vega, José Luis Díaz, Darvin Leiva, Melkin Sequeira, Sergio Cárdenas
Photo attributed to Ramírez 22 nic, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
USCIRF Commissioners Frank Wolf and Frederick Davie, Tweet, August 21, 2023
USCIRF Commissioners Frank Wolf and Frederick Davie, Tweet, August 18, 2023
USCIRF Commissioners Abraham Cooper, Frederick Davie, and Frank Wolf, Tweet, August 14, 2023
USCIRF Commissioners Frank Wolf and Frederick Davie, Tweet, July 13, 2023
"Así es 'El Infiernillo' donde el obispo Rolando Álvarez cumple 100 días encarcelado" Confidencial
USCIRF Commissioners Frank Wolf, Frederick Davie, and Abraham Cooper, Tweet, April 20, 2023
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Condemns Nicaragua’s 26-year Prison Sentence for Bishop Rolando Álvarez February 14, 2023
"Nicaraguan bishop who refused exile gets 26 years in prison" Associated Press (AP)
"Nicaraguan Catholic bishop sentenced to decades in prison, citizenship stripped" Reuters
USCIRF Commissioners Frank Wolf and Frederick Davie, Tweet, December 15, 2022
"Nicaragua orders bishop to remain under house arrest" Associated Press (AP)
USCIRF Hearing: Crackdown on Religious Freedom in Nicaragua November 15, 2022
"Roman Catholic leaders imprisoned" Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
"Catholics hope and pray for freedom of Bishop Alvarez in Nicaragua" Vatican News
USCIRF Commissioners Frank Wolf and Fred Davie, Tweet, August 22, 2022
"Nicaraguan bishop arrested after two-week standoff at Matagalpa residence" The Guardian
"Nicaraguan police detain bishop who criticized government" Los Angeles Times
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom in Nicaragua in 2022 August 11, 2022
“Bishops in Nicaragua ‘close’ to Bishop Alvarez under house arrest” Vatican News
“Nicaraguan police accuse bishop of inciting violence” Deutsche Welle (DW)
“Nicaragua police investigating bishop critical of government” Associated Press (AP)
Additional Name(s): همایون ژاوه
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Health Concerns: Parkinson’s disease
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/13/2022
Date of Sentencing: November//2020
Date of Release: May//2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization
Homayoun Zhaveh was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert.
In June 2019, authorities arrested Zhaveh and his wife, Sara Ahmadi, as they were on vacation with some friends. Zhaveh's wife was accused of leading a house-church and Zhaveh was accused of being a member of it.
In August 2019, Zhaveh was reportedly released on bail.
In November 2020, Zhaveh was sentenced to two years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC).
In December 2020, Zhaveh's sentence was upheld.
In June 2021, Zhaveh was informed that the Supreme Court had rejected his appeal for retrial.
On August 13, 2022, authorities detained Zhaveh after and sent him to Evin prison, possibly to begin serving his sentence.
In May 2023, it was reported that both Zhaveh and his wife were acquitted and released from their combined ten-year prison sentence.
Related Cases: Sara Ahmadi
Photo attributed to Article 18
"Parkinson's sufferer and wife acquitted, released from prison" Article 18
"Iranian Christian with Parkinson’s disease and wife detained" Article 18
"بازداشت دو نوکیش مسیحی، پس از حضور در شعبه اجرای احکام" Article 18
"Homayoun Zhaveh" United for Iran
"Iranian Christian convert with Parkinson’s disease faces prison" Article 18