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Raif Badawi was imprisoned for his religious freedom advoacy, expression about religion, and for criticizing religious authorities.

In June 2012, authorities arrested Badawi, a…

Hu Shigen was imprisoned in relation to his religious activity and religious leadership role. 

On July 10, 2015, Hu, a pro-…

Mohammad Roghangir was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert.

in October 2012, authorities arrested Roghangir, a member of the Church of Iran, after authorities raided a…

Youcef Nadarkhani was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert. 

On May 13, 2016, intelligence officials in Rasht…

Majid Kashan was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert. 

On November 18, 2017, authorities arrested Kashan at a house-church. Kashan is believed to have been originally…

Saeed Goudarzi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Goudarzi following a violent crackdown…

Mohsen Azizi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Azizi following a violent…

Heydar Teymouri was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Teymouri following a violent crackdown…

Rasoul Hoveyda was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, Hoveyda was arrested following a violent crackdown on people…

Jafar Ahmadi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Ahmadi following a violent crackdown on…

Ardeshir Ashayeri was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Ashayeri following a violent…

Mehdi Keyvanlou was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Keyvanlou following a violent…

Ehsan Malek Mohammadi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, Mohammadi was arrested following a violent crackdown…

Majid Rashidi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Rashidi following a violent crackdown on…

Ali Akbar Dadashi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Dadashi following a violent…

Salehoddin Moradi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Moradi following a violent crackdown…

Alborz Eskandari was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Eskandari following a violent…

Majid Moradi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Moradi following a violent crackdown on…

Mojtaba Biranvand was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Biranvand following a violent…

Abbas Dehghan was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Dehghan, an administrator for the website…

Nazila Nouri was imprisoned for her religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Nouri following a violent crackdown on…

Amanollah Balochi is imprisoned and sentenced to death for his religious belief and activity. 

On November 19, 2015, authorities arrested Balochi, a Sunni cleric, on his way home from…

Abdolrahim Kouhi is imprisoned and sentenced to death for his religious belief and activity. 

On November 20, 2015, authorities arrested Kouhi, a Sunni cleric, from his home. Kouhi…

Kidane Weldou is detained for his religious activity and leadership role.

In March 2005, authorities forcibly disappeared Weldou from the streets of Asmara, leaving his car abandoned. Weldou…

Haile Naizghe is detained for his religious activity and leadership role.

In May 2004, authorities arrested Naizghe, a pastor of the Full Gospel Church, which was part of a network of banned…

Meron Gebreselasie is detained for his religious leadership role. 

In June 2004, authorities arrested Gebreselasie, pastor of Massawa Rhema Evangelical Church, for his leadership…

Kiflu Gebremeskel is detained for his religious activity and leadership role. 

In May 2004, Eritrean authorities arrested Gebremeskel, a pastor of the banned Southwest Full Gospel…

Ilgar Aliyev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On April 19/20, 2017, armed forces arrested Aliyev in Izberbash, accusing Aliyev of holding classes…

Komil Odilov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

In December 2015, authorities arrested Odilov, an imam, alongside several others in cafe in Novosibirsk. …

Renat Suleimanov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On October 2, 2017, authorities arrested Suleimanov following a raid on his home in Molodezhnoe, Crimea.…

Bakhrom Kholmatov was imprisoned for his religious activity.

On April 10, 2017, authorities Kholmatov, pastor of the Sonmin Sonbogym (Full Gospel) Protestant Church, following a raid…

Ruhiddin Fahriddinov was imprisoned for his religious activity.

In November 2005, Kazakh authorities detained and deported Fahriddinov, a scholar and independent imam, to Uzbekistan.…

Naser Navard Goltapeh is imprisoned for his religious activity. 

In February 2025, authorities detained Goltapeh and other Christians without charge and sent him to Evin Prison. …

Ju Dianhong is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

In late 2016 (around September), Yunnan authorities detained Ju and several colleagues.  They were…

Liang Qin is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity. 

In late 2016 (around September), Yunnan authorities detained Liang and several colleagues.  They were…

Mohammad Ali Mosayebzadeh was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert.

On May 13, 2016, authorities arrested Mosayebzadeh, a member of the Church of Iran, and several…

Mohammad Reza Omidi was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert. 

On May 13, 2016, authorities arrested Omidi, a member of the Church of Iran, and several others…

Zaman Fadaei was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert.

On May 13, 2016, authorities arrested Fadaei, a member of the Church of Iran, and several others while performing…

Ebrahim Firouzi was detained for practicing his religion as a convert. 

On February 8, 2021, authorities arrested Firouzi again after he released videos detailing the authorities'…

Sadriddin Mulloyev is imprisoned for his religious activity and association.

In September 2019, authorities arrested Mulloyev and accused him of being a member of Tablighi Jamaat, a banned…

Sekhavat Salimi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Salimi following a violent…

Reza Sigarchi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, Sigarchi was arrested following a violent crackdown on people…

Hesam Moeini was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Moeini following a violent crackdown on…

Ali Reza Lak was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Lak following a violent crackdown on…

Reza Yavari Motlagh was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Motlagh following a violent…

Amir Nouri was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Nouri following a violent crackdown on…

Javad Khomeis Abadi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Abadi following a violent crackdown…

Saeed Soltanpour is detained for his religious association and activity.

In November 2022, authorities arrested Soltanpour for the second time. His arrest came amid a crackdown on…

Babak Taghian was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Taghian following a violent…

Morteza Kangarlou was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Kangarlou following a violent…

Babak Moradi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Moradi following a violent crackdown…

Saeed Dourandish was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Dourandish following a violent…

Ahmad Iranikhah was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Iranikhah following a violent…

Mohammad Reza Darvishi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Darvishi following a violent…

Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Moghaddam following a…

Mostafa Abdi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Abdi following a violent crackdown on…

Reza Entesari was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Entesari following a violent crackdown on…

Kasra Nouri was imprisoned for his religious association and for reporting on religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Nouri, a reporter for the…

Sina Entesari was imprisoned for his religious association and for reporting on religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Entesari, a news director for the…

Mehran Asgharzadeh was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Asgharzadeh following a violent…

Shokoufeh Yadollahi Farsi was imprisoned for her religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Farsi following a…

Bakhtiar Arefi was imprisoned for his religious association and activity. 

On January 25, 2015, authorities arrested Arefi, a teacher.  A month later, he was released on bail.…

Javad Karimzaei was detained for his religious belief and activity. 

On August 8, 2019, intelligence officers reportedly arrested Karimzaei, a student at the Shorshadi religious…

Mahrokh Ghanbari was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert.

In July 2019, authorities reportedly arrested Ghanbari. She was later released on bail.  She was reportedly…

Fatemeh Bakhtari was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert. 

In May 2017, authorities arrested Bakhtari and her husband, Zaman Fadaei, under unclear circumstances.…

Mohammad Karimaei was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Karimaei following a violent…

Mohammad Hassan Shah Reza was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Reza following a…

Kianoush Abbaszadeh was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Abbaszadeh following a violent…

Mostafa Mir Mohammadi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Mohammadi following a violent…

Farnam Farhang was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Farhang following a violent crackdown on…

Akbar Biranvand was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Biranvand following a violent crackdown…

Hossein Arang was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Arang following a violent crackdown on…

Abdollah Esmaili was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Esmaili following a violent…

Mehdi Mahdavifar was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Mahdavifar following a violent…

Behrouz Sadeghi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Sadeghi was arrested following a…

Mehdi Izadpanah was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Izadpanah following a violent crackdown…

Vahid Khamoshi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Khamoshi following a violent crackdown…

Saeed Khamoshi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Khamoshi following a violent…

Ali Reza Azadravesh was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Azadravesh following a violent…

Bashir Riahi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Riahi following a violent crackdown…

Behnoud Pourrostami was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Pourrostami following a violent…

Saeed Karimaei was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Karimaei following a violent crackdown…

Bolatbek Dyusenbekovich Nurgaliyev was imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.

On October 27, 2018, authorities arrested Nurgaliyev for participating in a WhatsApp group chat…

Ernar Samatov was imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.

On October 27, 2018, Kazakh authorities arrested Samatov for participating in a WhatsApp group chat about Islam.…

Beket Mynbasov was imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.

On October 27, 2018, Kazakh authorities arrested Mynbasov for participating in a WhatsApp group chat about Islam…

Noman Asghar is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

In June 2019, authorities arrested Asghar and his friend, Sunny Mushtaq, for receiving images deemed blasphemous via WhatsApp…

Ashfaq Masih is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

In June 2017, authorities arrested Masih, a bicycle mechanic, following a dispute with a customer. Authorities charged Masih…

Ksor Ruk is imprisoned for his religious activity. 

On October 30, 2018, authorities arrested Ruk, a missionary and religious leader.  Authorities accused him of reviving Degar…

Siu Doang is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In 2016, authorities arrested Doang, a house-church leader, for participating in a religious group not approved by the government.…

Ro Mah Pla was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In 2013, authorities arrested Pla after accusing him of taking direction from Montagnards overseas to spread Degar…

Siu Dik is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In 2016, authorities arrested Dik, a deacon, for participating in a religious group not approved by the government.  Authorities…

Ksor Phit is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In 2016, authorities arrested Phit, a deacon, for participating in a religious group not approved by the government. …

Ksor Pup is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In 2016, authorities arrested Pup, a house-church leader, for participating in a religious group not approved by the government. …

A Dao was imprisoned for his religious activity and religious freedom advocacy.

On August 18, 2016, authorities arrested Dao, the pastor of the Montagnard Evangelical Church of Christ…

Bekzod Bakirov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On December 22, 2016, authorities arrested Bakirov after accusing him of organizing a meeting to indoctrinate people to…

Akhmet Dzhumayev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On December 22, 2016, authorities arrested Dzhumayev after accusing him of organizing a meeting…

Islambek Kamchybekov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On December 22, 2016, authorities arrested Kamchybekov after accusing him of organizing a meeting to…

Shakir Kozhamkulov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On December 22, 2016, authorities arrested Kozhamkulov after accusing him of organizing a…

Gazybek Kubatov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On December 22, 2016, authorities arrested Kubatov after accusing him of organizing a meeting to indoctrinate…

Zufar Mustafin was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On January 17, 2017, authorities arrested Mustafin after accusing him of organizing a meeting to indoctrinate…