Additional Name(s): سخاوت سلیمی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: August//2018

Date of Release: March/22/2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Public Disorder Unlawful Disobedience

Sekhavat Salimi

Extra Bio Info:

Sekhavat Salimi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Salimi following a violent crackdown on people protesting the arrest of Nematollah Riahi. Riahi, a member of the Sufi Gonabadi Order, had come to Tehran earlier in February to participate in a sit-in protesting the house arrest of spiritual leader Noor Ali Tabandeh. Salimi was reportedly charged with "refusing police orders" (Art. 607 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC), and "disrupting public order" (Art. 618 IPC). Salimi was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In August 2018, Salimi was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison, 74 lashes, two years in exile, and two years of deprived social rights. Salimi was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

In September 2018, it was reported that Salimi was participating in a hunger strike demanding an end to Tabandeh's house arrest, the release of female Gonabadi Sufi prisoners, and for all Gonabadi Sufi prisoners in Great Tehran Penitentiary to be kept in the same ward.

In March 2019, a Tehran appeals court reportedly upheld Salimi's sentence.

On March 22, 2020, Salimi was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salimi was reportedly subjected to attacks and denied adequate medical care during his detention.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Female

Current Location: Shanxi Women's Prison

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Han

Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/30/2017

Date of Sentencing: November/6/2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Cult

Zhao Weiwei

Extra Bio Info:

Zhao Weiwei is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On March 30, 2017, officers from the Hanbin Branch of Ankang Public Security Bureau in Shaanxi province detained Zhao reportedly in relation to her religious belief, possession of religious materials, and attending of worship gatherings.

On November 6, 2018, the People’s Court of Baihe county sentenced Zhao to seven years in prison and fined her 20,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).

Zhao was taken to Shaanxi Women’s Prison to serve her sentence.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Female

Current Location: Shanxi Women's Prison

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Han

Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/30/2017

Date of Sentencing: November/6/2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Cult

Wang Baoyu

Extra Bio Info:

Wang Baoyu is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On March 30, 2017, authorities detained Wang reportedly in relation to her religious belief and attendance of worship gatherings. Police reportedly seized church funds, electronics, and religious materials at the time of her arrest.

On November 6, 2018, the People’s Court of Baihe County sentenced Wang to seven years in prison and fined her 20,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).

Wang was taken to Shaanxi Women’s Prison to serve her sentence.

Publicly Available Information:
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