Gender: Female

Perpetrator: China

Religion or Belief: Falun Gong

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September//2018

Date of Sentencing: December//2019

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Distributing Religious Materials Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Li Yuanyou

Extra Bio Info:

Li Yuanyou was imprisoned for her religious activity.

In September 2018, authorities arrested Li for distributing Falun Gong-related materials.

In December 2019, Li was reportedly sentenced to three years in prison.

On an unspecified date, the Guiyang City Intermediate Court reportedly rejected Li's appeal.

Li's sentence should have ended in September 2021.

Gender: Female

Current Location: Shijiazhuang Women’s Prison

Perpetrator: China

Religion or Belief: Falun Gong

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: June//2017

Date of Sentencing: December//2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Cult

Xu Xiujuan

Extra Bio Info:

Xu Xiujuan is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

In June 2017, authorities arrested Xu in relation to her Falun Gong activity. It is reported that she was tortured while in custody.

On an unspecified date, Xu was charged with "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).

In December 2018, Haigang District Court sentenced Xu to seven years in prison.

On an unspecified date, the Qinhuangdao City Intermediate Court rejected Xu's appeal.

In January 2020, Xu was reportedly transferred to Shijiazhuang Women's Prison.  

Xu reportedly develop blood pressure and heart problems in state custody. She was also reportedly denied adequate medical care.

Xu is reportedly married. 

Additional Name(s): حامد بن حيدرة

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Houthis

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: Death

Date of Detainment: December/3/2013

Date of Sentencing: January/2/2018

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Conversion Espionage

Hamid Kamal Mohammad bin Haydara

Extra Bio Info:

Hamid Kamal Mohammad bin Haydara was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On December 3, 2013, authorities linked to the Houthi-run National Security Bureau arrested Haydara while at work.

On December 17, 2013, authorities raided Haydara's home, confiscating documents and laptops.

On September 2, 2014, Haydara's wife, Ilham Zara’i, was finally allowed to visit him after he was held incommunicado since his arrest.

On January 8, 2015, Haydara was formally charged with allegedly being a spy for Israel, attempting to make certain locations within Yemen a homeland for the followers of the Baha’i faith, offering literacy classes that followed a curriculum deemed incompatible with Islam, and attempting to convert Muslims to the Baha’i faith.

In March 2017, the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights reported that Haydara had been tortured and mistreated while in custody, denied access to adequate medical care, and denied proper legal counsel during interrogations.

On January 2, 2018, Haydara was sentenced to death. His assets were also ordered to be seized and all Baha’i institutions be closed. 

On March 22, 2020, a Houthi appeals court upheld Haydara's death sentence.

On March 25, 2020, the Houthi Supreme Political Council announced that Haydara and other members of the Baha’i community would be released.

In July 2020, Haydara and five other Baha’is were released.