Additional Name(s): Сейтумеров Сейтумер Шукриевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 17 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/11/2020

Date of Sentencing: October/29/2021

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Seytumer Seytumerov

Extra Bio Info:

Seytumer Seytumerov is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.

On March 11, 2020, authorities arrested Seytumerov, a Crimean Solidarity activist, for allegedly being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization.

On October 29, 2021, the Southern District Military Court in the city of Rostov-on-Don sentenced Seytumerov to 17 years in prison for "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).

On February 9, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld Seytumerov's sentence.

Seytumerov is married with one child.

Related Cases: Osman Seytumerov, Rustem Seytmemetov, Amet Suleymanov

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): 张春雷

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: March/16/2021

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Embezzlement & Fraud Subversion

Zhang Chunlei

Extra Bio Info:

Zhang Chunlei is detained for his religious activity.

On March 16, 2021, authorities detained Zhang, an elder of the Love (Ren’ai) Reformed Church, for "illegally operating as an association" after he visited a police station to learn about the status of several colleagues arrested while attending a religious retreat.

On May 1, 2021, Zhang was officially arrested on charges of "fraud" reportedly for illegally collecting donations from church members.

In November 2021, Zhang’s lawyer learned that Zhang was also being investigated for "inciting subversion of state power.”

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Zhang Weizhu, 张维柱

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: May/21/2021

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Joseph Zhang Weizhu

Extra Bio Info:

Joseph Zhang Weizhu is detained for his religious activity. 

On May 21, 2021, authorities detained Zhang, the Vatican-approved bishop of the Xinxiang Diocese in Henan, the day after security forces arrested several priests and seminarians at the Xinxiang Diocese's seminary.  It is believed that Zhang was arrested for violating the revised Regulations on Religious Affairs, which require state approval of clergy.

Publicly Available Information:
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