Additional Name(s): Muhammad al-Ghamdi, محمد بن ناصر الغامدي
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Health Concerns: Mental Health Issues
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Sentence: Death
Date of Detainment: June/11/2022
Date of Sentencing: July/10/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Online Activity
Nature of Charges: Insulting Public Officials & Institutions Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Terrorism
Mohammed al-Ghamdi is imprisoned and sentenced to death for expressing support for religious prisoners of conscience.
On June 11, 2022, security forces in Mecca arrested al-Ghamdi outside his home. He was subsequently placed him in solitary confinement for four months in al-Dhahban Prison near Jeddah and was prohibited from contacting his family and accessing a lawyer.
On July 10, 2023, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced al-Ghamdi to death for “describing the King or the Crown Prince in a way that undermines religion or justice" (Art. 30 Counterterrorism Law), "supporting a terrorist ideology" (Art. 34 Counterterrorism Law), “communication with a terrorist entity” (Art. 43 Counterterrorism Law), and publishing false news “with the intention of executing a terrorist crime” (Art. 44 Counterterrorism Law). According to his trial judgement, al-Ghamdi had been accused of criticizing the government and calling for the release of imprisoned religious prisoners of conscience such as Salman al-Ouda and Ali al-Omari on Twitter, despite having less than 10 followers. Al-Ghamdi's brother, Saeed al-Ghamdi, is a religious scholar and a well-known dissident who received asylum in the United Kingdom following Saudi Arabia's 2017 crackdown on scholars, intellectuals, and activists. Saeed al-Ghamdi is also head of the SANAD Rights Foundation, which documents human rights abuses, including against religious prisoners of conscience, in Saudi Arabia and has argued Mohammed al-Ghamdi's sentencing is an attempt to stop his work.
On September 15, 2023, several UN experts called for al-Ghamdi's release.
Al-Ghamdi's health has reportedly deteriorated since his arrest. Authorities have reportedly refused to give him some of his prescription medications meant to treat his mental health issues.
Related Cases: Salman al-Ouda, Ali al-Omari
"Saudi Arabia: Revoke death penalty for social media activity, UN experts urge" UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
"Saudi Arabia: Man sentenced to death over twitter posts: Mohammad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi" Amnesty International
“Saudi Arabia: Man Sentenced to Death for Tweets” Human Rights Watch (HRW)
“Saudi Arabia reportedly sentences man to death for criticizing government on social media” CBS News
"Internet activist sentenced to death for tweets" Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
Additional Name(s): Крош Энвер Умерович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: August/11/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Enver Krosh is detained for his alleged religious activity.
On August 11, 2022, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, detained several Crimean Tatars, including Krosh, after searching their homes. Investigators accused them of organizing and participating in a cell of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, possessing religious literature, and talking about religious topics and Russia's persecution of Muslims. Krosh was charged with "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
Related Cases: Vilen Temerianov, Edem Bekirov, Rinat Aliev, Seitiaha Abbozov
Photo attributed to Memorial
"Крош Энвер Умерович" Memorial
"Five Crimean Tatars accused of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir are political prisoners" Memorial
"Мы считаем политзаключёнными пятерых крымских татар, обвиняемых в причастности к «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial
"Russia begins trial of Crimean Tatars arrested after humiliating attack by Ukraine" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Дело «первой Джанкойской группы» направят в Южный окружной военный суд" Crimean Solidarity
"Суд избрал меру пресечения крымским активистам по делу «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" OVD-Info
"Шесть жителей Джанкойского района Крыма задержаны по подозрению в причастности к "Хизб ут-Тахрир"" SOVA Center
Additional Name(s): Темерьянов Вилен Фаридович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Date of Detainment: August/11/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Distributing Religious Materials Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Vilen Temerianov is detained for his alleged religious activity.
On August 11, 2022, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, detained several Crimean Tatars, including Temerianov, after searching their homes. Investigators accused them of organizing and participating in a cell of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, possessing religious literature, and talking about religious topics and Russia's persecution of Muslims. Temerianov was charged with “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
Temerianov's health has reportedly deteriorated while detained.
Related Cases: Enver Krosh, Edem Bekirov, Rinat Aliev, Seitiaha Abbozov
Photo attributed to Memorial
"Темерьянов Вилен Фаридович" Memorial
"Гражданский журналист Вилен Темерьянов теряет зрение в СИЗО" Crimean Solidarity
"Five Crimean Tatars accused of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir are political prisoners" Memorial
"Мы считаем политзаключёнными пятерых крымских татар, обвиняемых в причастности к «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial
"Russia begins trial of Crimean Tatars arrested after humiliating attack by Ukraine" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Дело «первой Джанкойской группы» направят в Южный окружной военный суд" Crimean Solidarity
"Суд избрал меру пресечения крымским активистам по делу «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" OVD-Info
"Шесть жителей Джанкойского района Крыма задержаны по подозрению в причастности к "Хизб ут-Тахрир"" SOVA Center