Additional Name(s): Ahmed al-Matroud, أحمد المطرود
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: February/10/2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Forced Renunciation of Faith
Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism
Ahmed al-Matrood
Extra Bio Info:
Ahmed al-Matrood is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy.
On an unspecified date, Saudi authorities arrested al-Matrood for protesting in Al-Qatif governorate against the state's treatment of Shi'a citizens and for documenting these protests on social media. Authorities charged him with violating Royal Decree 44/A of 2014, forced him to sign a confession, and called for the death penalty.
In February 2021, the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced al-Matrood to 15 years' imprisonment.
Saudi authorities have mistreated al-Matrood, denying him adequate medical care.
Publicly Available Information:
- 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saudi Arabia U.S. Department of State
- “Six activists, including Israa al-Ghomgham, sentenced to lengthy prison terms” ALQST
- “Two years after start of trial: Violations and delay in the case of six activists; four face the death penalty” European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR)
- “Saudi Arabia: 'Relief' at withdrawal of death penalty against female activist” Amnesty International
- “Saudi Activists Face the Death Penalty” Amnesty International
Additional Name(s): མཁས་གྲུབ་རྒྱས་མཚོ་, 克珠加措(音)
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 11 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February//2012
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Khedrub Gyatso
Extra Bio Info:
Khedrub Gyatso was imprisoned in relation to protesting religious freedom conditions.
In February 2012, public security officials in Haixi (Tsonub) Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province, detained several individuals, including Gyatso, a monk at Bongtag Monastery, reportedly in relation to a self-immolation that occurred on February 17, 2012.
On an unspecified date, Gyatso was reportedly sentenced to 11 years in prison for "instigating" the self-immolation.
Gyatso's sentence should have ended in February 2023.
Publicly Available Information:
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"Khedrub Gyatso" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
Additional Name(s): ལྷ་དར་, 拉达
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: October/8/2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Lhadar
Extra Bio Info:
Lhadar is detained in relation to sharing information about religious freedom conditions.
On October 8, 2019, public security officials in Tarchen (Daqian) township, Seni district, Nagchu (Naqu) municipality, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), detained Lhadar reportedly for sending information abroad about protests against Chinese rule in TAR and Tibetan areas of China.
Lhadar was previously detained in 2013 for protesting the closure of Shag Rongpo Monastery in Driru (Biru) county, Nagchu prefecture, and other Chinese government policies in TAR.
Publicly Available Information:
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"Lhadar" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
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"Tibetan Man Not Heard From Since Detention Last Month by Chinese Police" Radio Fee Asia (RFA)