Additional Name(s): Sergey Nikolayevich Melnik, Мельник Сергей Николаевич
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Centre No. 3, Volgograd
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: September/23/2021
Date of Sentencing: September/23/2021
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
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Sergey Melnik is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On May 16, 2019, authorities in Volgograd arrested several Jehovah's Witnesses, including Melnik. They were reportedly accused of participating in “mass events to watch, listen to, and discuss audio and video materials propagating the cult of religious superiority of the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Melnik was charged with “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).
On November 22, 2019, Melnik was charged with “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) instead of “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).
On December 26, 2019, Melnik was released.
On September 23, 2021, the Traktorozavodsky District Court of Volgograd sentenced Melnik 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). Melnik was taken into custody following the verdict.
On March 18, 2022, the Volgograd Regional Court upheld Melnik's sentence.
On January 19, 2023, the Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation in Krasnodar upheld Melnik's sentence.
Related Cases: Igor Egozaryan, Valeriy Rogozin, Denis Peresunko
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Sergey Melnik" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Rogozin and Others in Volgograd" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Cassation Upheld the Sentence of Four Believers From Volgograd. They Will Continue to Serve Their Sentences in Penal Colonies" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"An Appeal in Volgograd Upholds the Sentence of Four Jehovah's Witnesses" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Six to Six and a Half Years in Prison for the Faith. Court in Volgograd Sentenced Four of Jehovah's Witnesses" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"All Four Prisoners of Conscience Were Released From Pre-Trial Detention in Volgograd" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"In Volgograd, Mass Detentions for Faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Rhoda Ya’u Jatau
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Nigeria
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: May/20/2022
Date of Release: December//2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Online Activity
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Public Disorder Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Rhoda Jatau was detained for blasphemy.
On May 20, 2022, authorities in Bauchi state arrested Jatau after riots broke out in response to a perceived blasphemous message she sent on WhatsApp. Jatau's message came reportedly in response to the murder of Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu who was killed in an instance of mob violence over a perceived blasphemous message she sent via WhatsApp. Jatau was reportedly accused of "inciting public disturbance; exciting contempt of religious creed; and cyber stalking" under Sections 114, 210 of the Penal Code Law and Section 24 subsection 1b(i) of Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015 Laws.
In December 2023, a judge in Bauchi State granted Jatau bail. She has been relocated to a safe, undisclosed location.
Photo attributed to ADF International
USCIRF Commissioners Frederick Davie and Frank Wolf, Tweet, December 19, 2023
"Christian mother on bail after 19 months in Nigerian prison for 'blasphemy'" ADF International
"Nigerian Court announces trial against Christian mother for alleged blasphemy will continue" ADF International
UN Special Rapporteurs Communication August 4, 2023
Letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, International Religious Freedom Roundtable, December 22, 2022
USCIRF Policy Update: Blasphemy Laws in Nigeria October 2022
"Christian Woman on Trial for Blasphemy in Northeast Nigeria" Morning Star News
"In Bauchi State, a Christian health worker is held for three months without trial on allegations of blasphemy" Light Bearer News
"Mob riots in north Nigeria over blasphemy claim" Ahram Online
Additional Name(s): Igor Artemovich Egozaryan, Егозарян Игорь Артемович
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: September/23/2021
Date of Sentencing: September/23/2021
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
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Igor Egozaryan is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On May 16, 2019, authorities in Volgograd arrested several Jehovah's Witnesses, including Egozaryan. They were reportedly accused of participating in “mass events to watch, listen to, and discuss audio and video materials propagating the cult of religious superiority of the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Egozaryan was charged with “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).
On November 22, 2019, Egozaryan was charged with “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) instead of “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).
On December 26, 2019, Egozaryan was released.
On September 23, 2021, the Traktorozavodsky District Court of Volgograd sentenced Egozaryan 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). Egozaryan was taken into custody following the verdict.
On March 18, 2022, the Volgograd Regional Court upheld Egozaryan's sentence.
On January 19, 2023, the Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation in Krasnodar upheld Egozaryan's sentence.
Related Cases: Sergey Melnik, Valeriy Rogozin, Denis Peresunko
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Igor Egozaryan" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Rogozin and Others in Volgograd" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Cassation Upheld the Sentence of Four Believers From Volgograd. They Will Continue to Serve Their Sentences in Penal Colonies" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"An Appeal in Volgograd Upholds the Sentence of Four Jehovah's Witnesses" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Six to Six and a Half Years in Prison for the Faith. Court in Volgograd Sentenced Four of Jehovah's Witnesses" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"All Four Prisoners of Conscience Were Released From Pre-Trial Detention in Volgograd" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"In Volgograd, Mass Detentions for Faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia