Additional Name(s): Rupesh Kumar Singh, உரூபேசு குமார் சிங்

Gender: Male

Current Location: Saraikela Jail

Perpetrator: India

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: July/17/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

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

Nature of Charges: Arms Trafficking & Illicit Use of Weapons Banned Organization Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Forgery Illegal Assembly Murder & Attempted Murder Public Disorder Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Rupesh Singh

Extra Bio Info:

Rupesh Singh is detained for his religious freedom advocacy.

In July 2022, police in Ramgarh district arrested Singh, a freelance journalist known for reporting on human rights abuses against Dalits and Adivasis, marginalized communities under India's religiously-based caste system. Authorities accused him of Maoist activities and charged him with “being a member of an unlawful association” and "unlawful activities" (Secs. 10, 13), among others, under the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Authorities further charged him with rioting with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, waging war against the state, sedition, and conspiracy (Sec. 147, 148, 120B, 121A, 124A IPC).

Authorities mistreated Singh during detention by depriving him of sleep during consecutive all-night interrogations and by housing him in a cell with other prisoners suffering from infectious diseases. Previously, authorities detained Signh for six months in 2019 for his reporting on Adivasi issues.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Mahbubeh Misaghian, محبوبه میثاقیان

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 8 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/2/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Mahboubeh Misaghian

Extra Bio Info:

Mahboubeh Misaghian was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity. 

On June 1, 2020, authorities reportedly arrested Misaghian and searched her home. 

On June 16, 2020, Misaghian was released on bail.

On an unspecified date, Branch 2 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court sentenced Misaghian to two years and eight months in prison for "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and eight months in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In October/November 2021, Branch 11 of the Yazd Court of Appeals reportedly acquitted Misaghian of "membership in organizations that aim to disrupt national security" (Art. 499 IPC) and upheld her eight-month sentence for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

On August 2, 2022, Misaghian was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence at Yazd Prison.

On an unspecified date, Misaghian was reportedly released after completing her sentence.

Related Cases: Mitra Bandi Amirabadi, Amin Zolfaghari, Hiwa Yazdan Mehdi Abadi

Publicly Available Information:

Aug 5, 2022

USCIRF Releases New Report Highlighting Religious Freedom in Pakistan

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Pakistan Country Update – This report examines religious freedom conditions and the growing intolerance for religious diversity fueled by extremism and existing problematic Pakistani legislation, citing recent attacks against religious minorities in the country. Religious minorities or anyone who interprets or practices their faith differently from the majority are subject to frequent attacks and threats, including accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, lynchings, mob violence, forced conversions, and the desecration of their houses of worship and cemeteries. Members of the Shi’a Muslim, Ahmadiyya Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities face increasingly aggressive societal discrimination often propagated by extremist rhetoric and enabled by Pakistani authorities who are unable or unwilling to protect these minorities.

In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. State Department designate Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

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