Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Tajikistan
Ethnic Group: Tajik
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: December/29/2019
Date of Release: August//2020
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence
Khayriddin Dostakov
Extra Bio Info:
Khayriddin Dostakov was detained for his alleged religious belief and activity.
On December 29, 2019, authorities arrested Dostakov at the Dushanbe Airport following his return from Russia. Officials accused him of spreading "extremist" ideas, specifically Shi'a beliefs and charged him with "public calls for extremist activity" (Art. 307-1 TCC) and "organization of an extremist association" (Art. 307-2 TCC).
During detention, authorities tortured Dostakov into confession through electric shocks and beatings.
In August 2020, Dostakov was released.
Publicly Available Information:
Jan 31, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2020
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Uzbekistan
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report:
Uzbekistan Country Update: This report provides an assessment of religious freedom conditions in Uzbekistan, where USCIRF commissioners and staff traveled twice over the course of 2019. Although Uzbekistan has taken some important initial steps over the past few years to allow for greater religious freedom, significant concerns remain. The report examines these ongoing issues, such as the continued imprisonment of religious prisoners, restrictions on Muslim communities, and a legal structure that severely impedes the religious activities of both majority and minority religious communities throughout the country.
In its 2019 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Uzbekistan as a CPC due to its systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or call (202) 523-3240.
Jan 30, 2020
For Immediate Release
January 29, 2020
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Saudi Arabia
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Saudi Arabia Policy Brief – This report provides a short overview of religious freedom conditions in Saudi Arabia in 2019. While Saudi Arabia has made some important legal reforms, particularly with regards to women’s rights, it has not addressed the underlying structural impediments to religious freedom in the country. In April, it conducted a mass execution of Shi’a Muslims, including some who were minors at the time they allegedly committed their crimes. No public worship is allowed in the country for non-Muslims, and the government continues to harass and surveil members of these communities. Women, such as Loujain al-Hathloul, who dissent from the government’s mandatory religious guardianship laws have been detained and subjected to severe mistreatment. On several occasions throughout 2019, the Saudi government released content on social media referring to feminism as a form of extremism. In late 2019, USCIRF Religious Prisoner of Conscience Raif Badawi was denied access to books and medicine and subsequently went on a hunger strike to protest these conditions.
In its 2019 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Saudi Arabia as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) due to its systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or call (202) 523-3240.