Feb 18, 2021

Listen on Apple Podcasts

 

In recent years, northern Iraq has become a battleground for Turkish armed forces and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). In June 2020, Turkey escalated their attacks in the region, announcing military operations Claw-Eagle and Claw-Tiger that included airstrikes near Sinjar. These attacks have been particularly damaging to the traumatized Yazidi community, who are victims of genocide by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Reports indicate that Turkey is planning military operations in Sinjar, instilling fear in the already vulnerable Yazidi community.

Joining us today to discuss these developments is USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza, who recently traveled to the region to get a deeper understanding of conditions on the ground. She is concerned that what is happening in Sinjar will mirror conditions in Afrin, a city in northern Syria that was occupied by the Turkish military in 2018.

Featuring:
Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF
Nadine Maenza, Commissioner, USCIRF

USCIRF's hearing on "Safeguarding Religious Freedom in Northeast Syria" from June 2020 is mentioned in this episode and is available here. 

Feb 25

WHEN:

Feb 25th 11:00am - Feb 25th 12:30pm

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

FoRB Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Update

Thursday, February 25, 2021
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Virtual Event

 Register Here

Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual event highlighting USCIRF’s Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience (RPOC) Project.

Each year, as an ever-increasing number of people are arrested and imprisoned for their religion or belief, USCIRF adds FoRB victims to its list and Commissioners adopt individuals as part of the RPOC Project to raise awareness and advocate for their release. USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and Vice Chair Tony Perkins will lead this virtual event, which will provide an update on USCIRF’s FoRB Victims List, an online database that catalogues select victims targeted due to their religion or belief.

Additionally, the event will highlight current RPOCs and feature testimonies from family members and advocates of specific RPOCs. Also joining will be Members of Congress who advocate on behalf of and publicize the plight of RPOCs.

Panelists:

  • Gayle Manchin, Chair, USCIRF
  • Tony Perkins, Vice Chair, USCIRF
  • James W. Carr, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • Frederick A. Davie, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • Nadine Maenza, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • Nury Turkel, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • Gary Bauer, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • Johnnie Moore, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • Rep. Doug Lamborn, Member, U.S. House of Representatives
  • Family Members for the following RPOCs:
    • Raymond Koh
    • Raif Badawi

 

This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted here following the event. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].

Additional Name(s): Ilnar Khusainovich Zinnatov, Зиннатов Ильнар Хусаинович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 19 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: June/6/2017

Date of Sentencing: March/13/2019

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 Association Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism

Ilnar Zinnatov

Extra Bio Info:

Ilnar Zinnatov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On June 6, 2017, authorities arrested Zinnatov after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Prosecutors accused him of organizing meetings for the organization, possessing banned literature, and trying to attract new members.

On March 13, 2019, the Privolzhsky District Military Court sentenced Zinnatov to 19 years in prison and once-and-a-half years of restricted freedom for "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "inciting others to commit crimes envisioned under Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code" (Art. 205.1-1 RCC).

Zinnatov is married with two children.

Related Cases: Ruslan Sungatov, Marat Tulyakov, Rustem Yamaliev, Irek Nasirov

Publicly Available Information:
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