Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Date of Detainment: May/15/2022
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Efrén Antonio Vílchez López
Extra Bio Info:
Efrén Antonio Vílchez López is imprisoned for his religious activity and leadership role.
On May 15, 2022, Nicaraguan authorities beat and detained Vílchez López, a well-known cross-denominational organizer affiliated with the International Missionary Centre Chapel of the Spirit. Authorities charged him with rape, a common tactic for attacking religious leaders in Nicaragua.
On September 21, 2022, Judge Edén Enrique Aguilar Castro sentenced Vílchez López to 23 years' imprisonment after the court refused to consider evidence of his innocence. Vílchez López, a diabetic, has been denied daily insulin, which resulted in his hospitalization.
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Aida Najaflou
Extra Bio Info:
Aida Najaflou is imprisoned for her religious conversion and activity.
In February 2025, Iranian authorities arrested Aida, a Christian convert, along with four other Christians for evangelism, prayer, and celebrating Christmas.
On October 21, 2025, Judge Abolqasem Salavati sentenced her to 17 years' imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime” and “acting against national security.” Najaflou, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, cracked her T12 vertebrae from falling out of her top bunk in prison after her request for a lower bunk due to her health condition was denied.
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Tajikistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Date of Detainment: February//2025
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Farkhod Negmatov
Extra Bio Info:
Farkhod Negmatov is imprisoned for his alleged religious association.
In February 2025, Tajik authorities detained Negmatov and charged him with involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, a banned religious group. Negmatov’s relatives denied the charges.
In May 2025, the Bobojon Ghafurov District Court sentenced Farkhud Negmatov to 8 years' imprisonment for his alleged affiliation with Hizb ut-Tahrir.