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.

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