Additional Name(s): Данил Смаль

Gender: Male

Current Location: Military Unit No. 28237, Almaty Region

Perpetrator: Kazakhstan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: May/17/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Conscientious Objection Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Daniil Smal

Extra Bio Info:

Daniil Smal was detained for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On May 17, 2023, conscription authorities summoned Smal to the district conscription office of Rudny, where he was immediately detained and taken to military unit no. 28237 in Almaty region. 

On August 1, 2023, Smal filed an administrative claim against his forcible military conscription. 

On October 11, 2023, the Military Court of the Almaty Garrison heard Smal's claim. 

On November 9, 2023, the Military Court declared that the order to recruit Smal was illegal, following which Smal was immediately released.

Sources:
  • USCIRF Commissioners Nury Turkel and David Curry, Tweet, October 17, 2023

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Nicaragua

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Date of Detainment: October/7/2023

Date of Release: October/18/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Yesner Cipriano Pineda Meneses

Extra Bio Info:

Yesner Cipriano Pineda Meneses was detained for his religious belief, religious activity, and religious leadership role.

On October 7, 2023, Nicaraguan authorities arrested Yesner Cipriano Pineda Meneses, a priest at the Nuestra Señora de Lourdes church in Ocotal, along with Salvador Paguaga and María Asunción Salgado. Meneses' arrest comes amidst a government crackdown on the Catholic Church.

On October 18, 2023, Meneses was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.

Related cases: María Asunción SalgadoSalvador Paguaga

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Nicaragua

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: October/8/2023

Date of Release: October/18/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Ramón Esteban Angulo Reyes

Extra Bio Info:

Ramón Esteban Angulo Reyes is detained for his religious belief, religious activity, and religious leadership role.

On October 8, 2023, Nicaraguan authorities arrested Ramón Esteban Angulo Reyes, a priest at the Nuestra Señora de Fátima church in Wapy. Reyes' arrest comes amidst a government crackdown on the Catholic Church. 

On October 18, 2023, Reyes was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.