Additional Name(s): Mohamaddi Rahmatullo, Mohammadi Rahmatullah, Муҳаммадӣ Раҳматуллоҳ, Муҳаррамов Муҳаммад Раҳматуллоевич

Gender: Male

Current Location: Strict Regime Prison No. 3/1, Vahdat District

Perpetrator: Tajikistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Health Concerns: Swollen legs

Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/2/2022

Date of Sentencing: March/23/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Instruction & Teaching Resisting State-Imposed Religious Systems

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Mukhammadi Mukharramov

Extra Bio Info:

Mukhammadi Mukharramov is imprisoned for his religious activity and leadership role.

In 2016, authorities arrested Mukharramov, an imam, and accused him of teaching Salafism, a banned school of Islamic thought. Authorities sentenced him to 8 years' imprisonment and banned him from teaching Islam privately, an activity reserved only for State-appointed imams. In 2021, he was released under amnesty.

In November 2022, police arrested Mukharramov for teaching Islam privately to a group of twelve Muslim men. In March 2023, the Ismoili Somoni District Criminal Court sentenced Mukharramov to 8 years' imprisonment for "organization of an extremist association" (Art. 307-2 TCC) and sentenced the other men to between 7 and 10 years' imprisonment on similar charges. Authorities confined Mukharramov at the Strict Regime Prison No. 3/1 in the Vahdat District.

During his detainment, Mukharramov's swollen leg condition worsened, causing his legs to stop working.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Sri Lanka

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: May/27/2023

Date of Release: July/6/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Expression about Religion Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech

Nathasha Edirisooriya

Extra Bio Info:

Nathasha Edirisooriya was detained for blasphemy.

On May 27, 2023, police arrested and detained Edirisooriya after receiving a complaint that she made jokes insulting to Buddhism and Christianity during a stand-up comedy show. 

On May 28, 2023, authorities charged Edirisooriya with "uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings" (Sec. 291A SLPC), "deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 291B SPLC), and "propagating war and advocating national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence" (Sec. 3 Sri Lankan ICCPR Act, No. 56 2007).

On July 5, 2023, the Colombo High Court granted Edirisooriya bail.

On July 6, 2023, Edirisooriya was released on bail.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Víctor Ticay

Gender: Male

Current Location: Sistema Penitenciario Nacional Jorge Navarro, Tipitapa

Perpetrator: Nicaragua

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: April/6/2023

Date of Sentencing: August/15/2023

Date of Release: September/5/2024

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations

Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition

Victor Ticay

Extra Bio Info:

Victor Ticay was imprisoned for covering religious issues.

On April 6, 2023, police arrested and detained Ticay, a journalist, for recording a banned Easter celebration in Nandaime and posting the footage online.

On May 19, 2023, prosecutors reportedly charged Ticay with "undermining national integrity" and "spreading fake news."

On June 9, 2023, a judge found Ticay guilty of both charges and transferred him to Sistema Penitenciario Nacional Jorge Navarro in Tipitapa, a prison also known as "La Modelo."

On August 15, 2023, Ticay was sentenced to eight years in prison.

On September 5, 2024, the Nicaraguan government exiled Ticay to Guatemala.

Related cases: Emmanuel Gutiérrez, Jimmy Antonio Bonilla

Publicly Available Information:
  • USCIRF Commissioners Frank Wolf and Frederick Davie, Tweet, October 2, 2023
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