Additional Name(s): Radik Mudarisovich Akhmetov, Akhmetov Radik Mudarisovich, Ахметов Радик Мударисович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 21 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/4/2015

Date of Sentencing: July/30/2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Radik Akhmetov

Extra Bio Info:

Radik Akhmetov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On February 4, 2015, authorities arrested Akhmetov after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. He was initially charged with “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC).

In January 2016, Akhmetov was also charged with "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC), and his previous charge was reclassified as "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC).

On July 30, 2018, the Volga District Military Court sentenced Akhmetov to 21 years in prison and one year and six months of restricted freedom for "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC). Akhmetov was also fined 600,000 rubles.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Aidar Albertovich Aidarbekov, Aidarbekov Aidar Albertovich, Айдарбеков Айдар Альбертович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 16 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September/6/2016

Date of Sentencing: December/11/2017

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 Terrorism

Aidar Aidarbekov

Extra Bio Info:

Aidar Aidarbekov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On September 6, 2016, authorities arrested Aidarbekov after accusing him of leading a cell of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities reportedly searched his home and confiscated Hizb ut-Tahrir literature. Aidarbekov and his colleagues reportedly came together to study religious literature and sought to attract new members, all of which are ordinary religious activities.

On December 11, 2017, the Volga District Military Court sentenced Aidarbekov to 16 years in prison for "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC).

Related Cases: Albert Shafiyev, Nail Miniakhmetov, Maksim Puygin, Radik Imangulov

Publicly Available Information:

Feb 10

WHEN:

Feb 10th 10:30am - Feb 10th 12:30pm

 

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing

Refugees Fleeing Religious Persecution

Wednesday, February 10, 2021
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Virtual Hearing

Hearing Transcript
Hearing Summary

Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual hearing about ways the U.S. government can better protect and support individuals fleeing religious persecution through the U.S. refugee resettlement program, the U.S. asylum system, and overseas assistance.

The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has been a critical pathway for refugees seeking safety in the United States. Since its creation through the Refugee Act of 1980, three million refugees have been resettled in this country. Today, however, there are 1.4 million extremely vulnerable refugees who urgently need to be resettled, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), many of whom have fled religious persecution. Overall, UNHCR estimates that as of the end of 2019, an unprecedented 79.5 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced—many in less developed countries that are struggling to host them—by conflict, persecution, or for other reasons. Managing this crisis will require the U.S. government to invest in refugee resettlement, improve its processing of asylum seekers, review vetting procedures, and improve its humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons, and the countries hosting them, abroad.

Witnesses will provide an overview of U.S. refugee resettlement, asylum, and humanitarian aid policies and present recommendations for improving these programs to better protect the most vulnerable.

Opening Remarks

Panel

  • Jenny Yang, Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, World Relief
    Written Testimony
  • Mark Hetfield, President and CEO, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
    Written Testimony
  • Leon Rodriguez, Immigration Attorney, Seyfarth; former Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    Written Testimony
  • Elizabeth Neumann, Senior Advisor, National Immigration Forum; former Assistant Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    Written Testimony
  • Murad Ismael, Co-founder and former Executive Director, Yazda
    Written Testimony

Witnesses’ Bios

 

Submitted for the Record:

Boat People SOS and Jubilee Campaign

Uyghur Human Rights Project

 

This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. Members of the media should register online and can email [email protected] for any questions or to schedule an interview. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact Nina Ullom at [email protected] or (202) 322-0232.

Subscribe to