Additional Name(s): Tashi Wangchuk, བཀྲ་ཤིས་དབང་ཕྱུག་, 扎西旺珠(音), 扎西文色, 扎西旺楚

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Tibetan

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: January/27/2016

Date of Sentencing: May/22/2018

Date of Release: January/28/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Language Rights Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Separatism

Tashi Wangchuk

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.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Current Location: Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: May/23/2004

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Kiflu Gebremeskel

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. 

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Current Location: Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: June/3/2004

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Meron Gebreselasie

Extra Bio Info:

Meron Gebreselasie is detained for his religious leadership role. 

In June 2004, authorities arrested Gebreselasie, pastor of Massawa Rhema Evangelical Church, for his leadership role within a network of banned evangelical churches. Authorities confined him at Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center.

Publicly Available Information:
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