Additional Name(s): Newsha Badie Sabet, نیوشا بدیعی ثابت
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: August/15/2023
Date of Release: September/11/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Niusha Badiei Sabet
Extra Bio Info:
Niusha Badiei Sabet was detained for her religious belief and activity.
On August 15, 2023, authorities in Babol, Mazandaran province, arrested Sabet and Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan at Mohammadzadegan's home reportedly in relation to their being Baha'i.
On September 11, 2023, Sabet was reportedly released on bail.
Related Cases: Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan
Sources:
- Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
- "سوزان عید محمدزادگان و نیوشا بدیعی ثابت، شهروندان بهائی آزاد شدند" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
- "Baha’i Citizen Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan Apprehended in Babol" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
- "Psychologist Arrested in Crackdown on Baha’is in Iran" IranWire
- "Baha’i Citizen Niusha Badiei Sabet Arrested" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
Additional Name(s): Kemal Meylismyradovich Saparov, Сапаров Кемал Мейлисмырадович, Кемал Сапаров, Saparow Kemal Meýlismyradowiç
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Turkmenistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: January/25/2018
Date of Sentencing: April/27/2018
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 Religious Activity Travel Abroad Unregistered Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Hate Speech Public Disorder Treason & Sedition
Kemal Saparov
Extra Bio Info:
Kemal Saparov is imprisoned for his religious activity.
On January 25, 2018, authorities in Ashgabat detained Saparov–a student studying in St. Petersburg, Russia–under administrative arrest for disorderly conduct.
On February 10, 2018, authorities criminally detained Saparov, accusing him of joining various Muslim religious movements not registered in Turkmenistan and engaging in anti-state activities against Turkmenistan while in St. Petersburg. His arrest, however, appears to stem from his discussions about religious and other topics with other Turkmens living in St. Petersburg.
On April 27, 2018, the Ashgabat City Court sentenced Saparov to 15 years in prison for "conspiracy to seize power" (Art. 174-1 TCC), "calls to violent change of the constitutional order" (Art. 175-2 TCC), “inciting social, national, ethnic, racial or religious hostility” (Art. 177-3 TCC), "creating an organized criminal group" (Art. 275-1 TCC), and “participating in an organized criminal group” (Art. 275-2 TCC).
On May 23, 2018, the Supreme Court upheld Saparov’s sentence.
Related Cases: Kakadjan Halbaev
Sources:
- "List of the Disappeared in Turkmenistan’s Prisons November 2021" Prove They Are Alive
- “«Повезло, что нам дали 15…»” Туркменские тетради
- “«Повезло, что нам дали 15…»” Memorial Human Rights Center
Additional Name(s): Kakadjan Abdullaevich Halbaev, Халбаев Какаджан Абдуллаевич, Halbaýew Kakajan Abdullaýewiç
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Turkmenistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/6/2018
Date of Sentencing: April/27/2018
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 Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Travel Abroad Unregistered Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Hate Speech Public Disorder Treason & Sedition
Kakadjan Halbaev
Extra Bio Info:
Kakadjan Halbaev is imprisoned for his religious activity.
On February 6, 2018, authorities detained Halbaev–a former student studying in St. Petersburg, Russia–under administrative arrest for petty hooliganism (Art. 345 TAC) after summoning him to the police department. That same day police came to his home and confiscated a Qur’an, a backpack, and various electronics. The month before, Halbaev had visited with employees of the Ministry of National Security who questioned him about Turkmens in St. Petersburg and his religious activity.
On February 15, 2018, authorities criminally detained Halbaev, accusing him of joining various Muslim religious movements not registered in Turkmenistan and engaging in anti-state activities against Turkmenistan while in St. Petersburg. His arrest, however, appears to stem from his discussions about religion and other topics with other Turkmens living in St. Petersburg. At the time of his criminal arrest, a government official reportedly told Halbaev’s family that he had been arrested because a sermon was found on his computer.
On April 27, 2018, the Ashgabat City Court sentenced Halbaev to 15 years in prison for "conspiracy to seize power" (Art. 174-1 TCC), "calls to violent change of the constitutional order" (Art. 175-2 TCC), “inciting social, national, ethnic, racial or religious hostility” (Art. 177-3 TCC), "creating an organized criminal group" (Art. 275-1 TCC), and “participating in an organized criminal group” (Art. 275-2 TCC).
On May 23, 2018, the Supreme Court upheld Halbaev’s sentence.
Related Cases: Kemal Saparov
Sources:
- Photo attributed to Memorial Human Rights Center
- "List of the Disappeared in Turkmenistan’s Prisons November 2021" Prove They Are Alive
- “«Повезло, что нам дали 15…»” Туркменские тетради
- “«Повезло, что нам дали 15…»” Memorial Human Rights Center