Extra Bio Info:

Rhoda Jatau was detained for blasphemy.

On May 20, 2022, authorities in Bauchi state arrested Jatau after riots broke out in response to a perceived blasphemous message she sent on WhatsApp. Jatau's message came reportedly in response to the murder of Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu who was killed in an instance of mob violence over a perceived blasphemous message she sent via WhatsApp. Jatau was reportedly accused of "inciting public disturbance; exciting contempt of religious creed; and cyber stalking" under Sections 114, 210 of the Penal Code Law and Section 24 subsection 1b(i) of Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015 Laws.

In December 2023, a judge in Bauchi State granted Jatau bail. She has been relocated to a safe, undisclosed location.

Extra Bio Info:

Igor Egozaryan was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On May 16, 2019, authorities in Volgograd arrested several Jehovah's Witnesses, including Egozaryan. They were reportedly accused of participating in “mass events to watch, listen to, and discuss audio and video materials propagating the cult of religious superiority of the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Egozaryan was charged with “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).

On November 22, 2019, Egozaryan was charged with “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) instead of “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).

On December 26, 2019, Egozaryan was released.

On September 23, 2021, the Traktorozavodsky District Court of Volgograd sentenced Egozaryan to six years in prison 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). Egozaryan was taken into custody following the verdict.

On March 18, 2022, the Volgograd Regional Court upheld Egozaryan's sentence.

On January 19, 2023, the Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation in Krasnodar upheld Egozaryan's sentence.

In December 2025, Egozaryan was released.

Related Cases: Sergey Melnik, Valeriy Rogozin, Denis Peresunko

Extra Bio Info:

Oleg Danilov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On March 30, 2021, the Krasnodar Territory Abinsky District Court sentenced Danilov to three years in prison for “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC). Authorities reportedly accused Danilov of participating “in religious teaching and sermons...through information and telecommunication networks,...entered into discussions in a collective discussion of the Bible,...read aloud to other participants the religious books Jehovah's Witnesses, with an emphasis on the fact that that these books contain the correct knowledge about God... ”. Danilov was taken into custody following the verdict.

On May 25, 2021, the Krasnodar Regional Court upheld Danilov's sentence.

In October 2021, it was reported that Danilov had been arbitrarily placed in a punishment cell for alleged prison violations.

On March 1, 2024, Danilov was released from prison after completing his sentence.