Additional Name(s): Mowlawi Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: August/20/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi

Extra Bio Info:

Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi is detained for his religious activity. 

On August 20, 2023, authorities reportedly arrested Naghshbandi, the imam and Friday prayer leader in Rask, while he was traveling from from Rask to Chah Bahar. The week before, local officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s Representative in the provincial capital, Zahedan, had summoned Naghshbandi threatening to arrest him if he continued to deliver sermons critical of authorities. His arrest came amid a crackdown on protestors, civil society, and former political prisoners following nationwide protests against the death of Mahsa Amini, and mandatory religious veiling.

Sources:

Additional Name(s): Исмету Ибрагимову, Ибрагимов Исмет Таирович

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: 19 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/7/2020

Date of Sentencing: July/8/2022

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 Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Ismet Ibragimov

Extra Bio Info:

Ismet Ibragimov is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.

On July 7, 2020, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, detained Ibragimov among others after searching their homes. Authorities accused Ibragimov of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization and spreading its ideas. 

On July 8, 2022, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Ibragimov to 19 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 October 2, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld Ibragimov's sentence.

Ibragimov is married with three children.

Sources:

Additional Name(s): Raja Amir Masih

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Pakistan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Date of Detainment: August//2023

Date of Release: March/1/2024

Current Status: Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts)

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Raja Amir

Extra Bio Info:

Raja Amir was detained for blasphemy.

In August 2023, police arrested Amir after rumors circulated alleging that he and his brother tore pages from a Quran and wrote derogatory comments on them. Amir was reportedly charged with "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B) and "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC).

On March 1, 2024, Amir was reportedly acquitted and released from prison.

Sources:
  • USCIRF Commissioner Susie Gelman, Tweet, August 22, 2023
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