Additional Name(s): هاکوپ گوچومیان

Gender: Male

Current Location: Evin Prison, Tehran

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Armenian

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Date of Detainment: August/15/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Belief Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Hakop Gochumyan

Extra Bio Info:

Hakop Gochumyan is detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 15, 2023, authorities in Pardis arrested Gochumyan while he and his family were having dinner at a friend's home. Authorities reportedly confiscated religious materials during the arrest. Over the late summer/early fall, authorities had reportedly arrested over a hundred Christians, including Gochumyan, in a sweeping crackdown across the country.

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Additional Name(s): Óscar José Escoto Salgado, Óscar Escoto Salgado

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Nicaragua

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Date of Detainment: December/21/2023

Date of Release: December/24/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Óscar Escoto

Extra Bio Info:

Óscar Escoto was detained for his religious belief and activity and his religious leadership role.

On August 4, 2022, the Nicaraguan police prevented several people, including Escoto, from leaving the residence of Bishop Rolando Álvarez as the bishop was on his way to perform mass at a local cathedral. Álvarez had criticized the government’s recent closure of several Catholic radio stations and its human rights record. Alvarez, Escoto, and the other individuals in the residence remained under de facto house arrest as authorities investigated them for “organizing violent groups” and encouraging them “to carry out acts of hate against the population.”

On August 19, 2022, Escoto was released from de facto house arrest.

On December 21, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities arrested Escoto, the Vicar of the Diocesis of Matagalpa. 

On December 22, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities released Escoto. Shortly after his release, Escoto was arrested again.

On December 24, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities released Escoto.

On January 14, 2024, Escoto was exiled to the Vatican.

Related Cases: Rolando Álvarez, Ramiro Tijerino, Sadiel Eugarrios, Raúl Antonio Vega, José Luis Díaz, Darvin Leiva, Melkin Sequeira, Sergio Cárdenas

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Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Nicaragua

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Date of Detainment: December/20/2023

Date of Release: January/14/2024

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Association Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Freedom Advocacy Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Isidro Mora

Extra Bio Info:

Isidro Mora was detained for criticizing religious freedom conditions and for his religious leadership role.

On December 20, 2023, Nicaraguan police arrested Mora, a bishop from the diocese of Siuna, after he reportedly offered prayers for the wrongly imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez during mass. Mora's arrest comes amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.

On January 14, 2024, Mora was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.

Related cases: Rolando Álvarez, Alester Sáenz, Tony Palacios

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