Additional Name(s): Хабаров Алексей Николаевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Appeal: Reduced to 2 Years, 4 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 2 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/20/2023
Date of Sentencing: October/20/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Aleksey Khabarov
Extra Bio Info:
Aleksey Khabarov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On October 20, 2023, the Porkhov District Court of the Pskov Region sentenced Khabarov to two years and six months 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 had accused Khabarov of participating in Jehovah's Witness activities. Khabarov was taken into custody following the verdict. The case against Khabarov goes back to 2019 when he was first charged with being a Jehovah's Witness. Courts have sentenced, acquitted, and ordered new trials for Khabarov since then in the same case.
On December 20, 2023, the Pskov Regional Court reduced Khabarov's sentence by two months to two years and four months in prison.
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Khabarov Aleksey" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"The Court Sentenced the Previously Acquitted Aleksey Khabarov to 2.5 Years in Prison" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): ابوالفضل پورحسینی
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Erfan-e Halgheh Practitioner
Reports of Torture: Yes
Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June//2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Distributing Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini
Extra Bio Info:
Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini is imprisoned for his religious activity.
In June 2023, authorities in Karaj detained Pour-Hosseini reportedly while he was passing out a leaflet about Erfan-e-Halgheh. Officers reportedly inflicted "severe physical violence" upon him during his arrest.
In December 2023, it was reported that a revolutionary court had sentenced Pour-Hosseini to three years in prison and two years of suspended imprisonment on unspecified charges. It was also reported that the Karaj Revolutionary Court was considering charges of “propaganda against the regime and inciting people to act against national security” against Pour-Hosseini in a separate case.
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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"Report on Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini’s Condition in Central Prison of Karaj" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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Taheri Movement, Tweet, December 6, 2023
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"Karaj Resident Beaten, Detained Over Past Three Months" IranWire
Additional Name(s): བསམ་འཕེལ་
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: October/25/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Samphel
Extra Bio Info:
Samphel is detained for his religious activity.
On October 25, 2023, police in Geding (Jiding) town, Sakya (Sajia) county, Shigatse (Rikaze) municipality, Tibet Autonomous Region, detained Samphel after accusing him of creating an online group to discuss Buddhism.
Sources:
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"Samphel" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)