Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Date of Detainment: November/30/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Unregistered Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Embezzlement & Fraud
Ding Zhongfu
Extra Bio Info:
Ding Zhongfu is detained for his religious leadership role.
On November 30, 2023, law enforcement authorities in Hefei city, Anhui province, arrested Ding, an elder of the unregistered house church Ganquan Church, after raiding the homes of several church members. Ding was charged with “fraud”—a spurious charge Chinese authorities frequently use to target house church Protestants—reportedly tied to the church's collection of tithes and donations.
Publicly Available Information:
-
USCIRF Commissioners David Curry and Nury Turkel, Tweet, April 17, 2024
-
“Hefei’s Ganquan Church: Three Released, Two Remain in Jail” Bitter Winter
-
"Christian group and family raise outcry over detention of another ‘house church’ elder in China" Associated Press (AP)
-
"HOME » UNCENSORED NEWS » GANQUAN CHURCH MEMBERS FACE POSSIBLE ARREST AND PROSECUTION" ChinaAid
Additional Name(s): Khayyam Aligulu oghlu Karimov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a
Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: January//2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use
Khayyam Karimov
Extra Bio Info:
Khayyam Karimov is imprisoned for his religious activity.
In January 2023, authorities arrested Karimov amid a deterioration of relations between Azerbaijan and Iran and a crackdown on perceived religious Shi'a Muslims.
On an unspecified date, Karimov was sentenced to five years in prison for "illegally purchasing or storing with a view of selling, manufacturing, processing, transporting, transferring or selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances in large amount" (Art. 234.4.3 ACC).
Additional Name(s): Aslan Maharram oghlu Gasimov, Aslan Maharram oglu Qasimov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a
Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June//2023
Date of Sentencing: January//2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use
Aslan Gasimov
Extra Bio Info:
Aslan Gasimov is imprisoned for his religious activity.
In June 2023, authorities arrested Gasimov amid a deterioration of relations between Azerbaijan and Iran and a crackdown on perceived religious Shi'a Muslims.
On an unspecified date, Gasimov was sentenced to five years in prison for "illegally purchasing or storing with a view of selling, manufacturing, processing, transporting, transferring or selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances in large amount" (Art. 234.4.3 ACC).