Extra Bio Info:

Ilgar Aliyev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On April 19/20, 2017, armed forces arrested Aliyev in Izberbash, accusing Aliyev of holding classes for groups of Muslims to read and discuss religious texts, including the writings of theologian Said Nursi. Authorities furthermore accused Aliyev of being a member of the banned group "Nurdzhular."

On May 28, 2018, Izberbash City Court sentenced Aliyev to eight years in prison and two years of restricted freedom for "organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC) and “recruiting…a person in the activities of an extremist organization” (Art. 282.2-1.1 RCC).

On July 25, 2018, the Supreme Court of Dagestan upheld Aliyev's sentence.

On August 30, 2018, Aliyev was included on the Rosfinmonitoring's terrorist list.

On November 22, 2022, the Fifth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction reduced Aliyev's sentence by two years. Following the verdict, Aliyev was released from prison.

In December 2022, it was learned that Aliyev had been stripped of his Russian citizenship and was waiting in a holding facility to be deported to Azerbaijan. 

In February 2023, Aliyev reportedly left the detention center for Azerbaijan. It is unclear if Aliyev still retains his Russian citizenship.

Extra Bio Info:

Tashi Wangchuk was imprisoned for his religious and ethnic identity.

On January 27, 2016, authorities arrested Tashi, a Tibetan cultural and linguistic rights advocate, in Yushu (Kyegudo) city, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Yushu TAP), Qinghai province, two months after he appeared in a New York Times article and video about Tibetan language education. He was charged with "inciting separatism" (Art. 103 CCL).

In December 2017, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released an opinion, calling for Tashi's release. 

On May 22, 2018, the Yushu TAP Intermediate People's Court sentenced Tashi to five years in prison and five years of deprived political rights.

On June 6, 2018, several UN human rights experts condemned Tashi's sentence. 

On August 13, 2018, the Qinghai High People's Court rejected Tashi's appeal. 

On January 28, 2021, Tashi was released.

Extra Bio Info:

Kiflu Gebremeskel is detained for his religious activity and leadership role. 

In May 2004, Eritrean authorities arrested Gebremeskel, a pastor of the banned Southwest Full Gospel Church, during an early morning raid on his home in Asmara. Gebremeskel's arrest came amid a crackdown on evangelical churches, which the government does not officially recognize. Authorities confined him in the Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center.