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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…

Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee is imprisoned for her activism and criticism of state-endorsed religious interpretations. 

On September 26, 2022, authorities arrested Iraee from her home in…

Azita Rafizadeh was imprisoned for her religious association and for providing religious education.

In the years prior to her arrest, Rafizadeh had been questioned by…

Hassan Sarvestani Momtaz was imprisoned for his religious association and for providing religious education.

In the years prior to his arrest, Momtaz, an educator, had been questioned…

Negin Ghadamian was imprisoned for her religious association and for providing religious education.

In the years prior to her arrest, Ghadamian, an educator, had been questioned by…

Vahed Kholousi was imprisoned for his religious belief and education rights and human rights activism.

In February 2010, authorities arrested Kholousi reportedly in relation to his…

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…

Payman Koushk-Baghi was imprisoned for his religious association and for providing religious education.

On February 28, 2016, authorities arrested Koushk-Baghi reportedly without…

Lei Xiuxiang was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions. 

In July 2015, authorities arrested Lei for sending a letter to a high-ranking former official, protesting…

Abdujelil Hajim is detained for his religious belief, activity, and ethnoreligious identity.

In 2017, authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) detained several Uyghur…

Jume Nasir is detained for his religious activity and ethnoreligious identity. 

In July 2016, authorities detained Nasir reportedly for praying inside his business. Additional reasons…

Beyshihan Hoshur is detained for her religious activity and ethnoreligious identity.

In March 2018, authorities detained Hoshur and several other elderly women in relation to their…

Abdulla Abdurahman is detained for his religious activity and ethnoreligious identity.

In March 2018, authorities in Pichan (Shanshan) county, Turpan (Tulufan) municipality, Xinjiang…

Yasin Tursun is imprisoned for his religious activity and ethnoreligious identity. 

In 2017, authorities detained Tursan, a farmer and Communist Party member, reportedly for "…

Ziyawudun Choruq is detained for his religious activity and ethnoreligious identity. 

On an unknown date in 2017, authorities in Korla (Ku’erle) city, Bayangol (Bayinguoleng) Mongol…

Tursun Hoshur is detained for his religious activity and ethnoreligious identity. 

In July 2017, public security authorities in Shaptul township, Peyziwat (Jiashi) county,…

Gheni Haji is imprisoned for his religious belief, activity, and ethnoreligious identity.

In May 2017, authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) detained Haji and…

Memet Tursun Haji is imprisoned for his religious belief, activity, and ethnoreligious identity.

In May 2017, authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) detained Haji,…

Imin Hajim is imprisoned for his religious belief, activity, and ethnoreligious identity.

In May 2017, authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) detained Hajim, …

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

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

Zhang Xia was imprisoned for her religious activity.

On March 15, 2016, police in Dalian municipality, Liaoning province detained Zhang and later raided her home, confiscating her…

Jiang Wei is imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.

On November 9, 2015, authorities detained Jiang after she sued former Chinese government official Jiang Zemin over his…

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…

Salekh Magamadov is imprisoned in relation to state-imposition of a particular religious interpretation. 

On February 4, 2021, Magamadov and Magamadov's sibling, Ismail Isaev, -…

Ismail Isaev is imprisoned in relation to state-imposition of a particular religious interpretation. 

On February 4, 2021, Isaev and Isaev's sibling, Salekh Magamadov, - two…

Fazilhoja Arifhojaev is under house arrest for his religious expression.

On June 28, 2021, authorities arrested Arifhojaev, a blogger known for his criticism of the government's religious…

Movsum Samadov was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions and for his political activity.

On January 7, 2011, authorities arrested Samadov, head of the Islamic Party…

Abqul Suleymanov was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.

On August 12, 2011, authorities arrested Suleymanov, a religious figure, for allegedly creating an extremist…

Aleksey Yershov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In July 2020, security forces raided the home of Yershov and other Jehovah's Witnesses. They reportedly…

Andrey Kolesnichenko was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In July 2020, authorities raided the home of Kolesnichenko and other Jehovah's Witnesses and confiscated…

Shohida Mamadjonova was imprisoned for her religious association.

In February 2022, authorities forcibly disappeared Mamadjonova, the mother of religious freedom advocate Sherzod …

Hidme Markam was detained for her advocacy work to protect religious sites.

On March 9, 2021, authorities arrested Markam, an Adivasi Indigenous activist known for criticizing state…

Go Sherab Gyatso is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 26, 2020, authorities arrested Sherab Gyatso - a Tibetan monk, religious philosopher, and advocate of a…

Rinchen Tsultrim was imprisoned for criticizing state policies restricting religious freedom.

On August 1, 2019, security officials in Ngaba (Aba) County, Ngaba (Aba) Tibetan &…

Gedun Lhundrub is detained in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.

On December 2, 2020, police in Rebgong (Tongren) county, Malho (Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous…

Wangchen is detained for his religious activity.

In June 2023, police in Lhasa municipality, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), detained Wangchen while he was on pilgrimage with his family.…

Thubten Pema Lhundrub is detained for adherence to a religious figure.

On May 14, 2019, public security officials in Kangtsa (Gangcha) county, Tsojang (Haibei) Tibetan Autonomous…

Lhundrub Dragpa is imprisoned in relation to criticizing government policies impacting religious freedom.

In May 2019, public security officials in Driru (Biru) county, Nagchu (Naqu)…

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…

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…

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…

Saha Sabeti was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested Sabeti in Sari after raiding her home.

On August 14, 2022,…

Saman Ostovar is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested Ostovar in Karaj after raiding his home.

On December 13,…

Afif Naeimi is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested Naeimi in Karaj after raiding his home.

On December 13, 2022,…

Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba was imprisoned for criticizing state violence against religious and marginalized communities. 

On May 9, 2014, plain clothed police officers in Delhi arrested…

Rolando Álvarez was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.

On August 4, 2022, police prevented Álvarez, bishop of the Matagalpa diocese, from leaving his home to perform…

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-…

Ramiro Tijerino was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.

On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Tijerino, a priest, from leaving the…

Sadiel Eugarrios was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.

On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Eugarrios, a priest, from leaving…

Raúl Antonio Vega was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.

On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Antonio Vega, a deacon, from…

José Luis Díaz was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.

On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Luis Díaz, a priest, from leaving the…

Darvin Leiva was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.

On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Leiva, a seminarian, from leaving…

Melkin Sequeira was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.

On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Sequeira, a seminarian, from leaving…

Sergio Cárdenas was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.

On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Cárdenas, a cameraman, from…

Jagtar Singh Johal is detained for his religious belief and religious freedom advocacy.

In November 2017, over a dozen plainclothes officers arrested Jagtar Johal, a Sikh activist and…

Bian Changxue is imprisoned for his religious activity.

On January 5, 2016, authorities in Yutian county, Tangshan municipality, Hebei province,…

Hengameh Alipour was detained for their religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Alipour, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Negar Darabi was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Darabi, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Golbon Fallah was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Fallah, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Mahsa Fathi was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Fathi, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Nazanin Goli was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Goli, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Mani Gholinejad was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Gholinejad, in Mazandaran province under…

Samiyeh Gholinejad was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Gholinejad, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Bita Haghighi was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Haghighi, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Sanaz Hekmat-Shoar was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Hekmat-Shoar, in Mazandaran province under…

Afnaneh Nematian was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Nematian, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Basir Samimi was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Samimi, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Mojir Samimi was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Samimi, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Sam Samimi was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Samimi, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Anis Sanaie was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 31, 2022, authorities arrested 14 Baha'is, including Sanaie, in Mazandaran province under unclear…

Yevgeny Tarasov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 5, 2021, authorities in Moscow arrested six men, including Tarasov, after raiding their homes and…

Mukazhan Ksyupov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 5, 2021, authorities in Moscow arrested six men, including Ksyupov, after raiding their homes and…

Parviz Zeynalov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 5, 2021, authorities in Moscow arrested six men, including Zeynalov, after raiding their homes and…

Urdash Abdullayev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 5, 2021, authorities in Moscow arrested six men, including Abdullayev, after raiding their homes and…

Ilmir Abdullin was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On October 5, 2021, authorities in Moscow arrested six men, including Abdullin, after raiding their homes and…

Nikolay Nesterovich was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On October 5, 2021, authorities in Moscow arrested six men, including Nesterovich, after raiding their homes…

Aleksey Dyadkin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On August 21, 2020, authorities arrested Dyadkin after he meeting with investigators for questioning.…

Aleksey Goreliy is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On August 8, 2020, authorities arrested Goreliy after raiding the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses and…

Nikita Moiseyev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On August 8, 2020, authorities arrested Moiseyev after raiding the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses and…

Vladimir Popov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On August 12, 2020, authorities arrested Popov after raiding the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses and…

Yevgeniy Razumov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On August 8, 2020, authorities arrested Razumov after raiding the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses and…

Oleg Shidlovskiy is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On August 8, 2020, authorities arrested Shidlovskiy after raiding the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses and…

Roman Baranovskiy is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On April 10, 2019, authorities in Abkan arrested Baranovskiy following raids on the homes of Jehovah's…

Yaroslav Kalin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Kalin following raids on the homes of several…

Sergey Kosteyev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Kosteyev following raids on the homes of several Jehovah'…

Nikolay Martynov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Martynov following raids on the homes of several Jehovah…

Mikhail Moysh is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Moysh following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's…

Igor Popov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On November 30, 2021, authorities in Mezhdurechensk detained Popov following a raid on his home. Investigators had…

Denis Sarazhakov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On November 30, 2021, authorities in Askiz detained Sarazhakov following a raid on his home.…

Aleksey Solnechny is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Solnechny following raids on the homes of…

Andrey Tolmachev is impisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Tolmachev following raids on the homes of…

Sergey Vasilyev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Tolmachev following raids on the homes of several…

Yevgeniy Zhukov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 1, 2020, Russian authorities in Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine, detained Zhukov following searches on…

Vladimir Maladyka is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 1, 2020, Russian authorities in Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine, detained Maladyka following…

Vladimir Sakada is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 1, 2020, Russian authorities in Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine, detained Sakada following searches on…

Sergey Ananin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On February 14, 2021, authorities in Belovo detained Ananin after searching the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. He…

Javed Mohammed is detained for his religious expression and religious freedom advocacy.

In June 2022, police in Uttar Pradesh arrested Mohammed, a well-known Muslim activist, after accusing…

Kamyar Habibi is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On September 10, 2022, authorities in Karaj arrested Habibi reportedly for his being Baha'i.

On December 13…

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…