Meret Owezow
Additional Name(s): Meret Hydyrowich Owezow
Gender: Male
Current Location: MR-E/16, Bayramali, Mary Region
Perpetrator: Turkmenistan
Ethnic Group: Turkmen
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 12 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: August/15/2017
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 Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Hate Speech Illicit Financing
Meret Owezow
Extra Bio Info:
Meret Owezow is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In early summer 2017, authorities arrested Owezow and four others for meeting to pray and study the writings of Said Nursi, a Turkish Islamic scholar.
In August 2017, the Balkan Regional Court in Balkanabat sentenced Owezow to 12 years’ imprisonment for “inciting social, national, ethnic, racial or religious hostility,” “participating in an organized criminal group,” and “financing of criminal structures” (Arts. 177-3, 275-2, 275.1-2 TCC). In July 2018, the Supreme Court in Ashgabat upheld Owezow's sentence.