Apr 1, 2022

The Rohingya community in Burma have been targeted by the Burmese military (known as the Tatmadaw) with mass killings and rape since 2017, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee the country. Since the military coup in February 2021, the Tatmadaw have employed similar tactics used on the Rohingya against all ethnic and religious communities, as we have noted in past Spotlight episodes. The coup has increased concern among the international community to pursue efforts of justice and accountability for the ongoing abuses against the Rohingya, which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken officially determined as genocide and crimes against humanity on March 21, 2022.

USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava joins us today to elaborate on what the genocide determination means going forward, and on ongoing accountability processes.

Additional Name(s): فرید مقدم زیرگی

Gender: Male

Current Location: Birjand

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: 1 Charge Overturned

Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October//2020

Date of Sentencing: October//2020

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Doctrine) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Expression about Religion Online Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Blasphemy Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Farid Zirgi Moghaddam

Extra Bio Info:

Farid Zirgi Moghaddam is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In August 2019, intelligence agents detained Moghaddam in Birjand reportedly in relation to posts he made about the Baha’i faith on the Telegram messaging app. Police reportedly seized electronics from his home.

In September 2019, Moghaddam was released on bail. While detained, Moghaddam was reportedly held in solitary confinement for nearly a month and denied access to an attorney.

In July 2020, Branch 1 of the Birjand Revolutionary Court sentenced Moghaddam to five years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and one year in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In August 2020, Branch 102 of the 2nd Criminal Court of Birjand sentenced Moghaddam to a year in prison for "insulting Islamic sanctities" (Art. 513 IPC). This charge was based on an allegation that Moghaddam had forwarded messages that provided a Baha’i interpretation of the Qur’an and denied the finality of the Prophet Muhammad and other Islamic beliefs.

In October 2020, Branch 4 of the South Khorasan Appeals Court upheld Moghaddam's sentence for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) but acquitted him of "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In October 2020, Moghaddam was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.

Related Cases: Arezou Mohammadi, Atieh Salehi, Roya Melaki, Ataollah Melaki

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): عطاالله ملاکی

Gender: Male

Current Location: Birjand

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 1 Year, 6 Months' or 2 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 6 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October//2020

Date of Sentencing: September//2020

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Ataollah Melaki

Extra Bio Info:

Ataollah Melaki was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In October 2017, security agents arrested Melaki and several other Baha’is following a raid on their homes in Birjand. The raids coincided with a Baha’i religious holiday.

A month later, Melaki was released on bail.

In April 2020, Melaki was sentenced to six years in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC). It is also reported he was sentenced for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC).

In September 2020, Branch 4 of the South Khorasan Appeals Court sentenced Melaki to one year and six months in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and acquitted him of “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC). There is other reporting that Melaki was sentenced to two years in prison.

In October 2020, Melaki was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence in a prison in Birjand.

Melaki's sentence should have ended. 

Related Cases: Arezou Mohammadi, Atieh Salehi, Roya Melaki, Farid Zirgi Moghaddam

Publicly Available Information:
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