Additional Name(s): Newsha Badie Sabet, نیوشا بدیعی ثابت

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: August/15/2023

Date of Release: September/11/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Niusha Badiei Sabet

Extra Bio Info:

Niusha Badiei Sabet was detained for her religious belief and activity. 

On August 15, 2023, authorities in Babol, Mazandaran province, arrested Sabet and Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan at Mohammadzadegan's home reportedly in relation to their being Baha'i.

On September 11, 2023, Sabet was reportedly released on bail.

Related Cases: Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan

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Additional Name(s): Kemal Meylismyradovich Saparov, Сапаров Кемал Мейлисмырадович, Кемал Сапаров, Saparow Kemal Meýlismyradowiç

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Turkmenistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: January/25/2018

Date of Sentencing: April/27/2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Travel Abroad Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Hate Speech Public Disorder Treason & Sedition

Kemal Saparov

Extra Bio Info:

Kemal Saparov is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In January 2018, authorities in Ashgabat detained Saparov, a student who was studying abroad in Russia, for alleged disorderly conduct. Authorities accused him of belonging to various unregistered religious groups during his time in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In April 2018, the Ashgabat City Court sentenced Saparov to 15 years’ imprisonment for “conspiracy to seize power,” “inciting social, national, ethnic, racial or religious hostility,” and “creating an organized criminal group,” among others (Arts. 174-1, 177-3, 275-1 TCC). In May 2018, the Supreme Court upheld Halbaev's sentence.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Kakadjan Abdullaevich Halbaev, Халбаев Какаджан Абдуллаевич, Halbaýew Kakajan Abdullaýewiç

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Turkmenistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/6/2018

Date of Sentencing: April/27/2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Travel Abroad Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Hate Speech Public Disorder Treason & Sedition

Kakadjan Halbaev

Extra Bio Info:

Kakadjan Halbaev is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In February 2018, authorities detained Halbaev, a former student who had studied in Russia, and charged him with "petty hooliganism" (Art. 345 TAC). The month before, Ministry of National Security officials questioned Halbaev about his religious activity and conversations with other Turkmens in Russia. The same day of his detention, authorities raided his home and confiscated a Qur'an and other personal items. After a sermon was found on his computer, authorities accused him of belonging to various unregistered religious groups during his time in Russia.

In April 2018, the Ashgabat City Court sentenced Halbaev to 15 years’ imprisonment for “conspiracy to seize power,” “inciting social, national, ethnic, racial or religious hostility,” and “creating an organized criminal group,” among others (Arts. 174-1, 177-3, 275-1 TCC). In May 2018, the Supreme Court upheld Halbaev's sentence.

Publicly Available Information:
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