Feb 14

WHEN:

Feb 14th 2:00pm

USCIRF Commissioner Frank Wolf testified at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Africa's Hearing: The Future of Freedom in Nigeria

View the recording here.

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

Extra Bio Info:

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

Extra Bio Info:

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.