Extra Bio Info:

Amin Zolfaghari was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On May 21, 2020, intelligence agents arrested Zolfaghari at his home in Yazd.

On June 23, 2020, Zolfaghari was released on bail.

On an unspecified date, Branch 2 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court sentenced Zolfaghari to two years and eight months in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and eight months in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In October/November 2021, Branch 11 of the Yazd Court of Appeals reportedly acquitted Zolfaghari of "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and upheld his eight-month sentence for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

On May 24, 2022, Zolfaghari was reportedly transferred to Yazd Prison to begin serving his sentence.

On an unspecified date, Zolfaghari was reportedly released after completing his sentence.

Related Cases: Hiwa Yazdan Mehdi Abadi, Mitra Bandi Amirabadi, Mahboubeh Misaghian

Extra Bio Info:

Jyoti Jagtap is detained for her religious freedom advocacy.

In September 2020, the Anti-Terrorism Squad in Pune arrested Jagtap, a human rights activist, for protesting against India's religiously based caste system. Authorities accused her and other Dalit rights activists of inciting caste-based violence through speeches and performances that resulted in violent clashes the next day in Bhima Koregaon. Authorities claimed she had ties with banned Maoist groups and charged her with "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion," waging war against the State, and sedition, among others (Secs. 153A, 121, 124A IPC).

Extra Bio Info:

Ramesh Murlidhar Gaichor was detained for his human rights and civil rights work for marginalized religious communities.

On September 7, 2020, the National Investigation Agency arrested Gaichor, a human rights defender and member of the Kabir Kala Manch cultural troupe. Gaichor was charged alongside several other prominent Dalit and Adivasi rights activists, whom authorities accused of inciting caste-based violence through speeches on December 31, 2017, that resulted in violent clashes the next day in Bhima Koregaon and neighboring villages in Maharashtra state. Authorities also accused them of having ties to banned Maoist groups. Gaichor was reportedly charged under various sections of the Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

In August 2021, the National Investigation Agency submitted draft charges to a special court in Mumbai, claiming that Gaichor and others accused in the case were active members of the banned terrorist organization Communist Party of India. It also alleged that the accused wanted to establish a “janta sarkar” “via revolution supported by a commitment to protracted armed struggle to undermine and to seize power from the state.” The accused were charged with over a dozen offenses including, "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony" (Sec. 153A IPC), public mischief (Sec. 505(1)(B) IPC), “waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India” (Sec. 121 IPC), “conspiracy to commit offences” waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), and several sections under UAPA.

Gaichor contracted COVID-19 while in prison. Authorities denied him proper medical care.

In January 2026, Ramesh Murlidhar Gaichor was released on bail.

Related Cases: Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Sagar Tatyarao Gorakhe, Jyoti Jagtap, Stan Swamy