Gender: Female
Current Location: Vakil Abad Prison
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Sentence: 1 Year's Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February//2024
Date of Sentencing: October//2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization
Noushin Mesbah is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In October 2023, Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolution Court sentenced Mesbah to one year in prison on charges of "membership in a group with the intent of disrupting the country's security" in relation to her Baha'i faith.
In February 2024, it was reported that Mesbah reported to Vakil Abad Prison to begin serving her sentence.
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Date of Detainment: November/14/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Transnational Repression
Nature of Charges: Extremism
Muhsinjon Ahmedov is detained for his religious activity.
On October 20, 2023, French authorities again detained Ahmedov, this time keeping him in a deportation center before eventually deporting him. While in the center, prison guards reportedly choked him with a cloth.
On November 14, 2023, France denied Ahmedov asylum and deported him to Uzbekistan under an expedited process based on extremism charges from Uzbek authorities for his peaceful religious activities. If found guilty, Ahmedov could face up to 20 years in prison.
On December 7, 2023, France's top administrative court ruled that the deportation was illegal and that Ahmedov should receive state compensation and be returned to France.
In 2015, Ahmedov fled Uzbekistan after facing false extremism charges following an unlawful detainment that included torture. In 2019, Ahmedov settled in France, where, in 2020, he helped rescue an elderly man and received a medal from the local mayor for his heroism. Despite advocacy from community members in France, French authorities put Ahmedov on a list of individuals that threaten national security, kept him under surveillance, and detained him for three months.
"Fire-Rescue 'Hero' Deported By France As Europe Accused Of Failing Central Asians Facing 'Transnational Repression'" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Vietnam
Ethnic Group: Ede
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Sentence: 4 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: May/18/2023
Date of Sentencing: January/26/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Praying Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief Religious Identity Resisting State Interference into Religious Affairs
Nature of Charges: Subversion
Nay Y Blang is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On May 18, 2023, Vietnamese authorities arrested Blang on accusations including “abusing democratic freedoms” (Art. 331/2015 VCC) for his affiliation with the unrecognized and unregistered Central Highlands Evangelical Church of Christ and holding in-home religious meetings for fellow members.
On January 26, 2024, the People's Court of Phu Yen province sentenced Blang to four years and six months in prison.
Blang was previously imprisoned for his peaceful religious activity. In 2005, Blang was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for "undermining the unity policy." Upon his release from prison in 2010, authorities sent Blang to an "educational facility" for 24 months for “abusing the rights to democratic freedom and freedom of belief to entice and incite others to violate the law, interests of the State, legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.”