Additional Name(s): فرهاد فهندژ

Gender: Male

Current Location: Rajai Shahr Prison/Gohardasht Prison, Karaj, Tehran

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Health Concerns: Contracted COVID-19

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October/17/2012

Date of Sentencing: April/24/2013

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Farhad Fahandezh

Extra Bio Info:

Farhad Fahandezh was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 17, 2012, intelligence officials arrested Fahandezh and several other Bahá’ís of Gorgan and the surrounding areas of Golestan Province following raids on their homes.  Authorities reportedly confiscated religious books, portraits, and CDs. Fahandezh was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

On April 24, 2013, Fahandezh was reportedly sentenced to ten years in prison for “founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC) and "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

Fahandezh has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and inhumane living conditions throughout his detention.

On March 16, 2020, Fahandezh was reportedly released on furlough in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In October 2020, the Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that Fahandezh was still in prison, had contracted COVID-19, and was placed in solitary confinement for 13 days.  He is currently believed to be in the the general ward of Rajai Shahr Prison.

On August 25, 2022, Fahandezh was released from prison after completing his sentence.

Fahandezh is married with two children.

Fahandezh had previously been imprisoned for his religious activity.  In 1983, Fahandezh was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Han

Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 9 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/9/2014

Date of Sentencing: April/29/2015

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Distributing Religious Materials Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Cult

Xu Zhaoling

Extra Bio Info:

Xu Zhaoling was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On August 9, 2014, officers from the Public Security Bureau of Wulian county, Rizhao city, Shandong province, detained Xu reportedly in relation to her organizing of religious gatherings, preaching, and distribution of religious materials. Police reportedly confiscated religious materials in Xu's possession. Xu was reportedly tortured during interrogation.

On April 9, 2015, the Wulian People’s Court sentenced Xu to nine years in prison and fined her 20,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).

Xu's sentence should have ended in August 2023.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Han

Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: December/11/2012

Date of Sentencing: November/21/2013

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Distributing Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Cult

Luo Yanping

Extra Bio Info:

Luo Yanping was imprisoned for her religious activity.

On December 11, 2012, officers from the Tonglu County Public Security Bureau in Zhejiang province detained Luo reportedly for printing books about the Church of Almighty God.

On November 21, 2013, the People’s Court of Tonglu, Zhejiang, sentenced Luo to ten years in prison and two years of deprived political rights for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).

Luo's sentence should have ended in December 2022.

Publicly Available Information:
Subscribe to