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:

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:

Aug 17, 2023

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Nepal

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

Nepal Country Update – This report provides an overview of religious freedom conditions in Nepal by examining how the country’s criminalization of proselytism, blasphemy, and cow slaughter in the National Penal (Code) Act, 2017, violate protections for the right to freedom of religion or belief under international human rights law. The country update also examines how legal impediments outside of the National Penal (Code) Act, 2017, violate the right to freedom of religion or belief. Hinduism remains influential in Nepali society and, as the country update shows, the legal impediments disproportionately impact the country’s Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim minority communities. Additionally, the report highlights the thousands of Tibetan refugees currently residing in Nepal who would be at a heightened risk of persecution if sent back to China, including violations of their right to life and their right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

A USCIRF delegation traveled to Nepal in 2016 to assess the country’s religious freedom conditions. USCIRF’s findings were detailed in its 2017 Annual Report and focused primarily on the treatment of Nepal’s minority Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim communities. In 2018, USCIRF also published a report detailing the problematic registration laws for international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and anti-conversion laws in Nepal.

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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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