Osman Arifmemetov

Additional Name(s): Арифмеметов Осман Фератович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 14 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/28/2019

Date of Sentencing: November/24/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Osman Arifmemetov

Extra Bio Info:

Osman Arifmemetov is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.

On March 28, 2019, authorities arrested and beat Arifmemetov, a citizen journalist and activist from the Crimean Solidarity movement, in Rostov-on-Don after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. His home in Crimea, Ukraine, was searched. He 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).

On November 24, 2022, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Arifmemetov to 14 years in prison.

On February 1, 2024, the Military Court of Appeal upheld Arifmemetov's sentence.

Arifmemetov has two children.

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) advocates for Arifmemetov as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

Related Cases: Enver Ametov, Ruslan Suleimanov, Yashar Muyedinov, Rustem Sheikhaliev

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