Additional Name(s): Mohammadreza Omidi, Youhan Omidi, Johann, محمدرضا امیدی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Accepted: Reduced to Unknown Amount

Sentence: Originally 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July//2018

Date of Release: August/18/2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Mohammad Reza Omidi

Extra Bio Info:

Mohammad Reza Omidi was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert. 

On May 13, 2016, authorities arrested Omidi, a member of the Church of Iran, and several others while they were performing religious rites at a house-church. Omidi was reportedly denied a lawyer.

In June 2016, Omidi was reportedly released after posting bail.

In September 2016, Omidi was sentenced to 80 lashes for "drinking alcohol." He had reportedly drunk communion wine during a worship service.

In June/July 2017, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Omidi to ten years in prison.  United For Iran reports Omidi was charged with "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC). Church In Chains reports that this charged included allegations of “propagating house churches” and promoting Zionist Christianity."

In July 2018, Omidi was taken into state custody to begin serving his sentence.

In both June and July 2020, it was reported that Omidi's sentence had been reduced, but by exactly how much is unclear. 

On August 18, 2020, Omidi was released from prison under unclear circumstance.

On October 14, 2020, Omidi was reportedly lashed 80 times for as part of his sentence for "drinking communion wine."

Omidi is married with two children.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Yaser Mosayebzadeh, Yasser Mossayebzadeh, محمدعلی مسیب‌زاده

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Fars

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Health Concerns: Contracted COVID-19

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 3 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/25/2018

Date of Release: February/22/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Mohammad Ali Mosayebzadeh

Extra Bio Info:

Mohammad Ali Mosayebzadeh was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert.

On May 13, 2016, authorities arrested Mosayebzadeh, a member of the Church of Iran, and several others while they were performing religious rites at a house-church. Mosayebzadeh was reportedly denied a lawyer.

In May 2016, Mosayebzadeh was reportedly released after posting bail.

In September 2016, Mosayebzadeh was sentenced to 80 lashes for "drinking alcohol." He had reportedly drunk communion wine during a worship service.

In June/July 2017, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Mosayebzadeh to ten years in prison.  United For Iran reports Mosayebzadeh was charged with "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC).  Church In Chains reports that this charged included allegations of “propagating house churches” and promoting Zionist Christianity."

On July 25, 2018, Mosayebzadeh was taken into state custody to begin serving his sentence.

In August 2020, it was reported that Mosayebzadeh had contracted COVID-19 while in prison.

In September 2020, Mosayebzadeh was reportedly released from prison on furlough in light of COVID-19.

In January 2021, it was reported that Mosayebzadeh's sentence was reduced to three years in prison.

According to Article 18, Mosayebzadeh was reportedly granted conditional release and was subsequently released from prison on February 22, 2021.

Mosayebzadeh is married with children.

Publicly Available Information:

Dec 11, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2019

USCIRF Applauds Sanctions against Senior Burmese Military Officials

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the Department of Treasury’s designation of senior Burmese military officials for sanctions under Executive Order 13818 and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, due to their individual roles in mass atrocities in Rakhine, Kachin, and Shan states. Designated individuals include Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese military; Soe Win, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese military; Than Oo, a leader of the 99th Light Infantry Division in Rakhine State; and Aung Aung, a leader of the 33rd Light Infantry Division in Rakhine State.

“USCIRF has long highlighted the Burmese military’s violations of religious freedom and mass violence against vulnerable communities and the importance of holding those responsible to account. These designations, which USCIRF had recommended, represent an important step forward in finding justice for the Rohingya and other persecuted groups,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Nadine Maenza.

“We applaud the Department of Treasury for sanctioning Burmese military leaders on International Human Rights Day for atrocities that USCIRF believes constitute crimes against humanity and genocide. Under their command, Burmese military forces committed egregious acts of violence – including extrajudicial killings, rape, and forced disappearances – and displaced millions from their homeland,” stated USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava.

In its 2019 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department continue to designate Burma as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act due to systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom. Among its policy recommendations, USCIRF urged the U.S. government “to impose targeted sanctions on members of Burma’s military, security forces, and non-state actors for severe human rights and religious freedom 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 threats to 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] or call 202-523-3240.

 

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