Additional Name(s): Yevgeny Pavlovich Tarasov, Тарасов Евгений Павлович

Gender: Male

Current Location: Butyrka Investigation Prison, Moscow

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 6 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October/5/2021

Date of Sentencing: June/27/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Possession of Religious Materials Praying Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Yevgeny Tarasov

Extra Bio Info:

Yevgeny Tarasov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 5, 2021, authorities in Moscow arrested six men, including Tarasov, after raiding their homes and confiscating religious literature and electronics. The men were accused of holding gatherings in their homes where Said Nursi's literature was read and discussed and where they drank tea together and prayed.

On August 25, 2022, Tarasov appeared in court, 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).

On June 27, 2023, the Kuzminsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Tarasov to six years and six months in prison.

On November 8, 2023, the Moscow City Court upheld Tarasov's sentence.

Related Cases: Mukazhan Ksyupov, Parviz Zeynalov, Urdash Abdullayev, Ilmir Abdullin, Nikolay Nesterovich

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Additional Name(s): Maliheh Nazari, ملیحه نظری

Gender: Female

Current Location: Evin Prison, Iran

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/30/2022

Date of Sentencing: June/7/2022

Date of Release: April/24/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Malihe Nazari

Extra Bio Info:

Malihe Nazari was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On June 30, 2020, authorities arrested Nazari following raids targeting house-churches across several cities.

In August 2020, Nazari was released on bail.

On June 7, 2022, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court reportedly sentenced Nazari to six years in prison for "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC).

In August 2022, a Tehran appeals court rejected Nazari's appeal.

On August 30, 2022, Nazari was taken into state custody to begin serving her sentence in Evin Prison.

On April 24, 2023, Nazari was reportedly released from prison.

Nazari reportedly has a son with leukemia.

Related Cases: Joseph Shahbazian

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): ژوزف شهبازیان

Gender: Male

Current Location: Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: Reduced to 2 Years' Imprisonment (Originally 10 Years' Imprisonment)

Date of Detainment: June/30/2020

Date of Sentencing: June/7/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Joseph Shahbazian

Extra Bio Info:

Joseph Shahbazian is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On June 30, 2020, authorities arrested Shahbazian, a house-church leader, following raids targeting house-churches across several cities.

On August 22, 2020, Shahbazian was released on bail.

On June 7, 2022, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court reportedly sentenced Shahbazian to 10 years in prison for "founding or leading an organization that aims to disrupt national security" (Art. 498 IPC).

In August 2022, a Tehran appeals court rejected Shahbazian's appeal.

On August 30, 2022, Shahbazian surrendered into state custody to begin serving his sentence at Evin Prison.

In June 2023, it was reported that Shahbazian's sentence had been reduced to two years. 

On September 13, 2023, Shahbazian was released from prison after reportedly being pardoned.

In February 2025, Iranian authorities again arrested Shahbazian and took him to Evin Prison. 

In April 2025, prison authorities denied Shahbazian permission to attend his mother's funeral. That month, Shahbazian's wife was reportedly arrested after intelligence authorities again raided the couple's home in Tehran. 

On October 15, 2025, Judge Abolqasem Salavati of the 15th Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Shahbazian to 10 years' imprisonment. His personal property, including Bibles and Christian literature, was confiscated by the Ministry of Intelligence.

Related Cases: Malihe Nazari, Naser Navard Goltapah

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