Additional Name(s): Shamil Rasulovich Khakimov

Gender: Male

Current Location: Strict Regime Prison YaS 3/5

Perpetrator: Tajikistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Health Concerns: High blood pressure, contracted COVID-19, lost vision, left ventricular hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, post-thrombotic syndrome, trophic ulcer, gangrene

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: Reduced to 4 Years, 3 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/26/2019

Date of Sentencing: September/10/2019

Date of Release: May/16/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Hate Speech

Shamil Khakimov

Extra Bio Info:

Shamil Khakimov was imprisoned for his religious activity.

On February 26, 2019, authorities arrested Khakimov reportedly under suspicion that he was leading Khujand's Jehovah's Witness community. Khakimov's arrest followed police raids on Jehovah's Witness homes in late January and early February 2019 after police stopped two Jehovah's Witnesses who had been sharing their faith with a passer-by in public. Before being arrested, Khakimov was summoned to the police station on February 1, 2019, and interrogated. During this time, his home was searched and his belongings were seized.

On September 10, 2019, the Khujand City Court sentenced Khakimov to seven years and six months in prison for “inciting religious hatred” (Art. 189 (2) TCC).  The court also imposed a three-year ban on his religious activity after he completes his sentence.

On October 9, 2019, Khakimov's appeal was rejected.

In December 2020, the government decriminalized the offense under which Khakimov had been convicted.

In March 2021, Khakimov's original sentence was reduced by two years, three months, and ten days. He was informed via letter that his term was commuted as a result of Tajikistan’s amnesty law.

In September 2021, Khakimov's only son - and the only visitor allowed to see Khakimov in prison - died. Khakimov was not permitted to attend his funeral.

On September 9, 2021, Khakimov's sentence was reduced another year.

On November 2, 2022, a judge reportedly rejected Khakimov's request to be transferred to a specialized hospital for urgent medical treatment.

As of November 2022, Khakimov's health condition remains dire. Khakimov's health has severely deteriorated while in prison with authorities consistently denying and delaying medical care. At the time of his arrest, he was still recovering from major surgery on his leg which later developed serious open sores. Khakimov showed symptoms of COVID-19 in December 2020. Shamil has become blind in his right eye and has severely lost vision out of his left eye. He also suffers from various ailments that threaten his life without specialized medical treatment, including heart disease (left ventricular hypertrophy), atherosclerosis of the legs, varicose veins in his lower extremities, post-thrombotic syndrome in both legs, a trophic ulcer on his left foot, and early stages of gangrene. Moreover, Khakimov experienced severe emotional distress due to the death of his son.

On February 15, 2023, the Sugd Regional Court rejected Khakimov's appeal to be transferred to a specialized hospital for medical treatment. 

On May 16, 2023, Khakimov was released from prison after completing his sentence. 

Prison administration reportedly pressured Khakimov to renounce his faith by refusing to submit his petition for a presidential pardon. 

In January 2025, Khakimov died from health complications that were exacerbated by the poor conditions and severe medical neglect he suffered in prison.

Publicly Available Information:

Nov 4, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2019
 
 
 
 
USCIRF Supports Sanctions on Iranian Official Responsible for Baha’i Persecution
 
 
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes today’s announcement that the United States Treasury has sanctioned Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani for directing “the regime’s systematic blocking of social and economic progress of the Baha’i community, a religious minority group in Iran. This includes expelling members of the Baha’i faith from universities and denying them employment.” This is the first time the Treasury Department has sanctioned an individual specifically for his role in orchestrating the persecution of Baha’is in Iran.
 
“Today’s designation of Mohammed Golpayegani for his role in directing the eradication of Baha’is is a clear signal that the United States will act with the full array of tools at its disposal against officials responsible for violating religious freedom.” said USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins. “The message of today’s designations is clear: America will act when foreign officials commit severe religious freedom abuses.”
 
“Iran’s Baha’i community has long been the target of systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations by Iran’s government,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin. “USCIRF welcomes today’s news as a significant step toward accountability for religious minorities persecuted by governments around the world.”
 
As reported in USCIRF’s 2019 Annual Report in the chapter about Iran, Iran's government considers the Baha'i faith a heretical "deviant sect" whose members are de facto apostates. As reported by the Baha’i International Community in 1991, Mohammed Golpayegani issued a confidential memorandum to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei outlining a plan for the systemic persecution of Baha’is in Iran, including expelling them from universities, destroying their cultural roots, and denying them employment and positions of influence. He then collaborated with the Ayatollah to ensure the actualization of the plan. Since 2010, USCIRF has recommended sanctioning individuals specifically for their role in violating religious freedom. Today’s announcement marks one of the United States government’s most explicit designations on this basis to date.

 

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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.

Gender: Male

Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: September/21/2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Daniel Teka

Extra Bio Info:

Daniel Teka is detained for his religious activity.

In September 2017, authorities detained Teka for sharing his faith with others.

Publicly Available Information:
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