Additional Name(s): Мустафаев Марлен Рамисович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 17 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/9/2022

Date of Sentencing: November/30/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Religious Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Marlen Mustafayev

Extra Bio Info:

Marlen Mustafayev is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity. 

On February 9, 2022, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, arrested Mustafayev and other Crimean Tatar activists after accusing them of being in the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Prosecutors alleged that Mustafayev recruited members to the organization, held meetings about it, and possessed its literature. 

On November 30, 2022, the Southern Military District Court sentenced Mustafayev to 17 years in prison for "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: Ametkhan Abdulvapov, Ernes Seytosmanov, Ansar Osmanov

Sources:

Additional Name(s): Февзиев Раиф Энверович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 17 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/17/2021

Date of Sentencing: January/12/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Religious Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Raif Fevziyev

Extra Bio Info:

Raif Fevziyev is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.

On August 17, 2021, authorities in Russian-occupied, Crimea, Ukraine, detained five people, including Fevziyev, an imam, after searching their homes. Authorities accused Fevziyev of organizing a banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization cell. Accusations reportedly stem from a recording of Fevziyev discussing religious issues in December 2015.

On January 12, 2023, the Southern Military District Court sentenced Fevziyev to 17 years in prison for "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: Dzhebbar Bekirov, Zavur Abdullayev, Rustem Murasov, Rustem Tairov

Sources:

Mar 14, 2023

USCIRF Releases New Report on India’s State-Level Anti-Conversion Laws

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

India’s State-Level Anti-Conversion Laws – This issue update examines the common features of India’s 12 state-level anti-conversion laws and explains how those features are inconsistent with international human rights law. Common features of these laws include prohibitions on conversions, notifying the government of one’s intent to convert, and burden-shifting provisions that presume an individual accused of violating an anti-conversion law is guilty. Each of these features violates rights protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The report concludes that repealing India’s state-level anti-conversion laws is necessary to comply with international human rights law and to help prevent the country’s poor religious freedom conditions from further deteriorating.

In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate India as a country of particular concern (CPC) for its particularly severe violations of religious freedom. USCIRF also published a 2022 country update on religious freedom conditions in India and a Spotlight Podcast episode on anti-conversion laws and growing intolerance in India.

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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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

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