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.
Between May and June 2017, authorities arrested five people, including Owezow, for meeting together to study the writings of Said Nursi and pray.
On August 15, 2017, the Balkan Regional Court in Balkanabat sentenced Owezow to 12 years in prison for “inciting social, national, ethnic, racial or religious hostility” (Art. 177-3 TCC), “participating in an organized criminal group” (Art. 275-2 TCC), and “financing of criminal structures” (Art. 275.1-2 TCC).
On July 11, 2018, the Supreme Court in Ashgabat upheld Owezow’s sentence.
Owezow is married with four children.
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