Additional Name(s): Azamat Gaidarovich Umbetaliyev
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Kazakhstan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 5 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/27/2018
Date of Sentencing: August/5/2019
Date of Release: December/6/2021
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression
Nature of Charges: Hate Speech
Azamat Umbetaliyev was imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.
On October 27, 2018, authorities arrested Umbetaliyev for participating in a WhatsApp group chat about Islam.
On August 5, 2019, the Almaly District Court in Almaty sentenced Umbetaliyev to five years and six months in prison for "incitement of social, national, patrimonial, racial, class or religious discord…by group of persons” (Art. 174-2 KCC). It also fined him 48,100 tenges and froze his bank accounts.
On November 20, 2019, Umbetaliyev's appeal was denied.
On December 6, 2021, Umbetaliyev was released from prison on probation.
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