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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…

Bahram Hemdemov was imprisoned for his religious activity.

On March 14, 2015, authorities arrested Hemdemov following a raid on his home coinciding with a large worship meeting he was…

Kerven Kakabayev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

In January 2018, authorities arrested Kakabayev. 

On January 29, 2018,…

Ikhlosbek Rozmetov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On January 19, 2021, Rozmetov was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "…

Mekan Annayev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On June 26, 2018, Annayev was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "rejecting call-up to…

Veniamin Genjiyev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On January 19, 2021, Genjiyev was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "rejecting…

Maksat Jumadurdiyev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On January 18, 2021, Jumadurdiyev was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "…

Isa Sayayev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On August 9, 2018, Sayayev was sentenced to one year in a labor camp for "rejecting call-up to…

Ruslan Artykmuradov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On January 11, 2021, Artykmuradov was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "…

Sokhbet Agamyradov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On August 27, 2018, Agamyradov was sentenced to one year in a labor camp for "rejecting…

Serdar Atayev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On August 28, 2018, Atayev was sentenced to one year in a labor camp for "rejecting call-up to…

Gurbangylych Muhammetgulyyev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On November 28, 2018, Muhammetgulyyev was sentenced to one year in a labor camp…

Azamatjan Narkulyev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On January 18, 2021, Narkulyev was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "rejecting…

Eziz Atabayev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On December 19, 2018, Atabayev was sentenced to two year in a labor camp for "rejecting call-…

Mohammad bin Hassan al-Habib is imprisoned for his religious expression, leadership role, and religious freedom advocacy.

In July 2016, authorities detained al-Habib, a Shi'a cleric, as he…

Ashraf Fayadh was imprisoned for apostasy.

In August 2013, authorities arrested Fayadh, a Palestinian poet and artist living in Saudi Arabia, following an altercation with a man in …

Ahmad al-Shamri is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

In 2014, authorities arrested al-Shamri, accused him of using social media to insult or renounce Islam, and charged him…

Muhammedali Saparmuradov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On March 19, 2019, Saparmuradov was sentenced to one year in a labor camp for "…

Bahtiyar Atahanov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On July 15, 2019, Atahanov was sentenced to four years in a labor camp for "…

Azat Ashirov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On July 31, 2019, Ashirov was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "rejecting call-up to…

David Petrosov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On September 30, 2019, Petrosov was sentenced to one year in a labor camp for "rejecting call…

Selim Taganov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On October 3, 2019, Taganov was sentenced to one year in a labor camp for "rejecting call-up…

Kamiljan Ergashov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On January 13, 2020, Ergashov was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "rejecting…

Serdar Dovletov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On November 12, 2019, Dovletov was sentenced to three years in a labor camp for "rejecting…

Vepa Matyakubov was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.

On February 17, 2020, Matyakubov was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for "rejecting…

Leah Sharibu is in EPC captivity for refusing to renounce her faith.

On February 19, 2018, the Islamic State - West Africa Province (…

Annamurad Atdaev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In September 2016, authorities arrested Atdaev when he returned to Turkmenistan from Egypt, where he had been studying…

Hassan Farhan al-Maliki is detained for his religious expression and religious freedom advocacy.

In September 2017, authorities arrested al-Maliki, an…

Ali al-Nimr was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

In July 2012, authorities detained Al-Nimr, the nephew of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-…

Dawood al-Marhoun was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

On May 21, 2012, authorities arrested al-Marhoun, who was 17 years old at the time…

Abdullah al-Zaher was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

In March 2012, authorities detained al-Zaher, 15 years old at the time, for…

Aisha al-Muhajiri is detained for her religious activity.

In February 2021, police raided al-Muhajiri's home in Mecca and detained her for preaching and giving Qur'an lessons at her home.…

Mohammed al-Rabiah is imprisoned for his activism against state imposed religious systems.

On May 15, 2018, authorities arrested al-Rabiah amid a statewide crackdown on women's rights…

Salman al-Ouda is detained for his religious activity and leadership role.

In September 2017, police arrested al-Ouda, a sheikh and Islamic scholar, from his home amid a state-wide wave…

Waleed abu al-Khair is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy.

In April 2014, authorities arrested al-Khair for legally defending religious prisoners of conscience, including Raif…

Ali Aboluhom is imprisoned for his religious expression.

In August 2021, authorities arrested Aboluhom for allegedly expressing ideas about atheism online. Prosecutors charged him with…

Murtaja Qureiris was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

On September 20, 2014, authorities arrested Qureiris, who was 13 years old at the…

Ali al-Omari is detained for his religious activity and leadership role.

In September 2017, authorities arrested al-Omari, an Islamic scholar, talk-show personality, and chairman of TV…

Israa al-Ghomgham is imprisoned for her religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

In December 2015, Saudi authorities arrested al-Ghomgham, a well-known Shi'a activist, along with…

Mousa al-Hashim is imprisoned for his religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

In December 2015, Saudi authorities arrested al-Hashim along with his wife, a well-known Shi'a…

Mohammed Issam al-Faraj is imprisoned for his religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

On June 29, 2017, authorities in Medina arrested al-Faraj for protesting the state's…

Ali Hassan al-Faraj is detained for his religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

In June 2017, authorities in Medina arrested al-Faraj for protesting against the state's treatment…

Ahmed Abdul Wahid is detained for his religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

In June 2017, authorities in Medina arrested al-Faraj for protesting against the state's treatment of…

Ali Mohammed Al Bati is detained for his religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

In June 2017, authorities in Medina arrested Al Bati for protesting against the state's treatment…

Mohammed Hussein Al Nimr is detained for his religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

In June 2017, authorities in Medina arrested Al Bati for protesting against the state's…

Jalal Labbad was imprisoned and executed for his religious identity and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On February 23, 2017, authorities arrested Labbad from his family’s home…

Ahmed al-Matrood is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy.

On an unspecified date, Saudi authorities arrested al-Matrood for protesting in Al-Qatif governorate against the state's…

Khaled al-Ghanim is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy.

On an unspecified date, Saudi authorities arrested al-Ghanim for protesting in Al-Qatif governorate against the state's…

Ali al-Ouwaisher is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy.

On an unspecified date, Saudi authorities arrested al-Ouwaisher for protesting in Al-Qatif governorate against the state's…

Mujtaba al-Muzain is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy.

On an unspecified date, Saudi authorities arrested al-Muzain for protesting in Al-Qatif governorate against the state's…

Lina Alsharif was detained in relation to religious freedom advocacy.

In May 2021, officials from the Saudi Presidency of State Security raided Alsharif’s home in Riyadh, arrested her, and…

Sulaiman al-Dowaish was forcibly disappeared for his religious expression.

In April 2016, al-Dowaish, a religious scholar, was forcibly disappeared after posting tweets summarizing a…

Aimidoula Waili was detained for his ethnoreligious identity.

In November 2020, Saudi Arabian authorities arrested Waili, a Uyghur Muslim and religious scholar, following an extradition…

Nuermaimaiti Ruze was detained for his ethnoreligious identity.

In November 2020, Saudi Arabian authorities arrested Ruze, a Uyghur Muslim, following an extradition request from the Chinese…

Buheliqiemu Abula was detained for her ethnoreligious identity.

In March 2022, Saudi Arabian authorities detained Abula, a Uyghur Muslim, and threatened her with deportation to China.

…

Ali Badahdah is imprisoned in relation to his religious activity and leadership.

On September 12, 2017, armed soldiers arrested Badahdah, an imam and professor of hadith at King Abdul Aziz…

Asmaa al-Subaie is detained for her women’s rights activism critical of state-imposed religious systems.

In June 2021, authorities affiliated with the Presidency of State Security arrested…

Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun is detained for her religious freedom advocacy.

In July 2021, authorities arrested Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun, a cleric and legal advisor, after he wrote an article…

Omar al-Muqbil is imprisoned for his religious expression and religious freedom advocacy.

In September 2019, authorities arrested al-Muqbil, a cleric, for a sermon criticizing concerts…

Abdullah Basfar is imprisoned for his religious activity and leadership.

In August 2020, authorities arrested Basfar, an imam, professor, well-known Qur’an reciter, and former Secretary-…

Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan is imprisoned for his religious expression. 

In March 2018, security agents from the Presidency of State Security arrested Al-Sadhan for operating two anonymous…

Salma al-Shehab was imprisoned for her women's rights activism opposing state-imposed religious systems as well as her religious identity.

On January 15, 2021, authorities arrested al-…

Saleh Al Talib is imprisoned for his religious expression leadership.

In August 2018, authorities arrested Talib, an imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, following a sermon he gave criticizing…

Youssef al-Manasif is imprisoned and sentenced to death for his religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

In April 2017, authorities arrested al-Manasif for participating in…

Abdullah al-Derazi was imprisoned and executed for his religious identity and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On August 27, 2014, Tarut Island Police arrested al-Derazi in…

Jumanazar Hojambetow is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In early summer 2017, authorities arrested Hojambetow and four others for meeting to pray and study the writings of…

Begejik Begejikow is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In early summer 2017, authorities arrested Begejikow and four others for meeting to pray and study the writings of Said…

Ahmet Mammetdurdyyew is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In early summer 2017, authorities arrested Mammetdurdyyew and four others for meeting to pray and study the writings…

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,…

Myratdurdy Shamyradow is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In early summer 2017, authorities arrested Shamyradow and four others for meeting to pray and study the writings of…

Abdul Majeed Al-Arkani is imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.

In 2020, authorities arrested Al-Arkani, an imam, for being friendly with a prominent Turkish figure, Yasin…

Khaled Al-Rashed is imprisoned for his religious expression and association.

In March 2006, Saudi authorities arrested Al-Rashed, a cleric, for his membership in the Movement of Reformers…

Manahel al-Otaibi is imprisoned for her religious freedom advocacy.

In November 2022, Saudi authorities arrested al-Otaibi, an online fitness influencer, for opposing religiously grounded…

Badr Nader Al-Mashari is detained for his religious belief and activity.

In July 2023, authorities detained Al-Mashari, a prominent cleric who criticized the Saudi government's sponsorship…

Bahram Saparov is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In March 2013, authorities arrested Saparov after he was accused of being "…

Kakadjan Halbaev is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In February 2018, authorities detained Halbaev, a former student who had studied in Russia, and charged him with "petty hooliganism…

Kemal Saparov is imprisoned for his religious activity.

In January 2018, authorities in Ashgabat detained Saparov, a student who was studying abroad in Russia, for alleged disorderly conduct…

Mohammed al-Ghamdi is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy.  

In June 2022, security forces in Mecca arrested al-Ghamdi at his home. Prosecutors accused him of…

Anas al-Mazrou is detained for his religious freedom advocacy.

In March 2019, authorities arrested al-Mazrou, a university lecturer, for participating in a human rights panel at the…

Ashyrbay Bekiev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

In August or September 2023, Turkmen authorities detained Bekiev after he had been deported from Russia following…

Nourah al-Qahtani is imprisoned for her religious activity.

In July 2021, officers of the Presidency of State Security arrested al-Qahtani for advocating for human rights on social…

Mariam Al Qisoom is imprisoned for her religious freedom advocacy. 

In February 2019, authorities arrested Qisoom for her human rights advocacy on behalf of Shi'a minorities in…

Assad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi was sentenced on religious-based charges related to social media activity criticizing the Saudi government, including the authorities’ sidelining of the Saudi religious…

Arslan Wepayew was detained for his conscientious objection.

In November 2024, authorities arrested Wepayew and placed him in pretrial detention for refusing to perform military service…

Malik al-Dowaish is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy. 

In July 2022, Saudi authorities arrested Malik al-Dowaish for peacefully advocating for his father, Sulaiman al-…

Awad al-Qarni is imprisoned and sentenced to death for his religious belief and leadership role. 

In September 2017, authorities arrested Qarni, a renowned Sunni preacher and scholar,…