Additional Name(s): Журавель Никита Сергеевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: Yes

Sentence: 3 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: May/20/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Public Disorder

Nikita Zhuravel

Extra Bio Info:

Nikita Zhuravel is imprisoned for blasphemy.

On May 20, 2023, authorities in the Volgograd region arrested 19-year-old Zhuravel after he allegedly posted a video online of himself burning a Qur’an with a mosque in the background and uttering words mocking Muslims. Authorities said Zhuravel had confessed to burning the Qur’an at the behest of Ukrainian security services. He was charged with "public actions expressing obvious disrespect for society and committed with the aim of insulting the religious feelings of believers...committed in places specially designated for holding divine services, other religious rites and ceremonies" (Art. 148-2 RCC). Zhuravel was later transferred to a pre-trial detention in Chechnya, where his case would be prosecuted, despite concerns for his safety and violating law.

In August 2023, Adam Kadyrov, the son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, beat up Zhuravel in prison.

On September 25, 2023, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video of his son Adam Kadyrov assaulting Zhuravel in prison, calling what his son did the "right thing" to do.

On October 4, 2023, it was reported that Zhuravel had also been charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or enmity (Art. 213-1 RCC) in addition to insulting religious feelings (Art. 148-2 RCC).

On October 12, 2023, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video of him meeting with Zhuravel, in which Zhuravel tells Kadyrov of his desire to study Islam and possibly convert. 

On February 27, 2024, the Visaitovsky District Court in Grozny sentenced Zhuravel to three years and six months in prison for  "public actions expressing obvious disrespect for society and committed with the aim of insulting the religious feelings of believers...committed in places specially designated for holding divine services, other religious rites and ceremonies" (Art. 148-2 RCC) and hooliganism committed by an organized group by prior conspiracy based on religious hatred and enmity (Art. 213-2 RCC). Reports indicate he was also sentenced to 300 hours of community service.

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Sep 5, 2023

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom in Vietnam

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Vietnam Country Update – This report highlights religious freedom conditions in Vietnam following a USCIRF delegation visit to the country in May 2023. While acknowledging the deepening partnership between Vietnam and the United States, as well as the incremental progress Vietnam made over the last decade on religious freedom, this report describes the country’s persistent—and apparently worsening—egregious, ongoing, and systematic violations. These violations are especially prevalent in rural and provincial levels and present the most challenges to ethnic and religious minority communities. This publication updates USCIRF’s reporting on the haphazard implementation of the 2018 Law on Belief and Religion as well as continued issues in its enforcement.

In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State designate Vietnam a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). In November 2022, the U.S. Department of State placed Vietnam on its Special Watch List (SWL), the first such designation since 2005 when it was last named a CPC.

USCIRF will be holding a virtual hearing this week on religious freedom in Vietnam and how the U.S. government can work with the Vietnamese government to address violations.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

Gender: Female

Current Location: La Esperanza prison, Tipitapa, Nicaragua

Perpetrator: Nicaragua

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: August/19/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition

Gabriela Morales

Extra Bio Info:

Gabriela Morales is detained in relation to a crackdown on religious institutions.

On August 19, 2023, police detained Morales, who was a student at the Jesuit Juan Pablo II University. The government cancelled the University's legal status and confiscated its property in March 2023. Morales's detention occurred amidst a crackdown on Catholic institutions in Nicaragua, including the government's arbitrary cancellation of the Jesuit University of Central America's (UCA) legal status and seizure of its property in August 2023. Reports suggest that prior to Morales' arrest, she expressed her support for the UCA.

In October 2023, it was reported that Morales had been charged with spreading false news and undermining national integrity and had been denied access to a lawyer in the first two legal proceedings of her trial. It was subsequently reported that Morales had also been charged with possession of marijuana. 

In November 2023, Morales was found guilty of drug trafficking and not guilty of spreading false news and undermining national integrity.

Related case: Adela Elizabeth Espinoza Tercero

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