Joshua Hilmy
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Malaysia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: November/30/2016
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared
Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Not Applicable
Joshua Hilmy
Extra Bio Info:
Joshua Hilmy was forcibly disappeared for his religious belief and activity.
On November 30, 2016, Hilmy, who is a pastor, and his wife, Ruth Sitepu, were disappeared at the hands of authorities or with their acquiescence. The U.S. Department of State indicated in its 2020 International Religious Freedom Report that Hilmy was targeted because of his conversion from Islam to Christianity.
On March 6, 2017, Hilmy and Sitepu's landlord filed a formal missing persons report. In July 2021, a government official testified that there are no government records of Hilmy and Sitepu leaving the country since their disappearance.
In November 2025, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) urged the authorities to immediately reopen investigations into the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and his wife.
Related Cases: Ruth Sitepu
Publicly Available Information:
- USCIRF Annual Report 2023: Malaysia
- "No Record Found Showing the Departure of Missing Pastor and Wife" International Christian Concern (ICC)
- "Malaysian Government Withholds Evidence Concerning Missing Pastor" International Christian Concern (ICC)
- 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Malaysia U.S. Department of State
- USCIRF Enforced Disappearances in Malaysia Factsheet October 2019