Additional Name(s): صالح آل طالب
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August//2018
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Saleh Al Talib
Extra Bio Info:
Saleh Al Talib is imprisoned for his religious expression leadership.
In August 2018, authorities arrested Talib, an imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, following a sermon he gave criticizing the government’s General Entertainment Authority for sponsoring concerts and events that oppose religious and cultural norms.
In August 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal sentenced Talib to 10 years' imprisonment.
Publicly Available Information:
- “Saudi Arabia: Former imam of Mecca's Grand Mosque jailed for 10 years” Middle East Eye
- Dawn السعودية, Tweet, August 22, 2022
- معتقلي الرأي, Tweet, August 22, 2022
- معتقلي الرأي, Tweet, February 21, 2022
- معتقلي الرأي, Tweet, August 30, 2021
- 2018 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saudi Arabia U.S. Department of State
- “Saudi ‘detains’ Mecca imam who ‘challenged mixed gatherings’” Al Jazeera
Additional Name(s): محمد چگینی
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: August/24/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Association Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Mohammad Chegini
Extra Bio Info:
Mohammad Chegini is detained for his religious association.
On August 24, 2022, authorities arrested Mohammad Chegini in Kerman under unclear circumstances.
Publicly Available Information:
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USCIRF Commissioners Sharon Kleinbaum and Eric Ueland, Tweet, August 30, 2022
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"Gonabadi Dervish Mohammad Chegini Arrested in Kerman" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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"محمد چگینی توسط نیروهای امنیتی در کرمان بازداشت شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
Additional Name(s): 任胜林
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Falun Gong
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/16/2016
Date of Sentencing: July/17/2017
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Cult
Ren Shenglin
Extra Bio Info:
Ren Shenglin was imprisoned for his religious activity.
On November 16, 2016, authorities detained Ren reportedly in relation to his Falun Gong activity. They reportedly searched his home in Shifang city, Deyang municipality, Sichuan province, and confiscated Falun Gong-related materials.
On July 17, 2017, the Shifang People's Court sentenced Ren to 7 years in prison for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).
Ren's sentence should have ended in November 2023.
Publicly Available Information:
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"Ren Shenglin" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)