Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Malaysia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: November/30/2016

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared

Reason for Persecution: Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Ruth Sitepu

Extra Bio Info:

Ruth Sitepu was forcibly disappeared in relation to her religious belief and activity. 

On November 30, 2016, Sitepu and her husband, Joshua Hilmy, were disappeared presumably at the hands of authorities. The U.S. Department of State indicated in its 2020 International Religious Freedom Report that Hilmy was targeted because of his conversion from Islam to Christianity.  International Christian Concern reports that the couple was targeted because of their ministry to non-Christians.

On March 6, 2017, Sitepu and Hilmy's landlord filed a formal missing persons report. 

In July 2021, a government official testified that there are no government records of Sitepu and Hilmy leaving the country since their disappearance.

Related Cases: Joshua Hilmy