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Gulmira Imin is imprisoned for her ethnoreligious identity and protesting against Uyghur treatment.

On July 14, 2009, Imin, web administrator for the Uighur-language website Salkin, was…

Jamaloddin Khanjani was detained for his religious association. 

On August 13, 2023, security forces apprehended Khanjani and his daughter Maria Khanjani and took them to Evin…

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

On July 10, 2015, Hu, a pro-…

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was forcibly disappeared because of his religious leadership role.

On May 17, 1995, authorities abducted then six-year old Gedhun and his family.  The…

Ivan Matsitsky was detained for his religious activity and religious leadership role.

In June 2017, authorities detained Matsitsky, the director of the Church of Scientology in St.…

Abune Antonios was placed under house arrest and died in state custody for resisting state-interference in church affairs.

On January 20, 2006, authorities notified Antonios, patriarch of…

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

On May 13, 2016, intelligence officials in Rasht…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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.…

Mo Xiufeng is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On July 2, 2017, plainclothes police officers from Lishui city, Zhejiang province, detained Mo after raiding her home…

Wu Lin is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On July 21, 2017, police from Lishui, Zhejiang province, arrested Wu reportedly in relation to her religious leadership role,…

Bao Shuguang is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On June 1, 2017, public security officials from Zaozhuang municipality, Shandong province, detained Bao, a church leader,…

Jiang Xingmei is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On June 23, 2017, authorities criminally detained Jiang, a church leader, after accusing her of organizing religious…

Chen Hong is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On June 23, 2017, authorities criminally detained Chen, a church leader, after accusing her organizing religious meetings,…

Bai Lanxiang is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On June 23, 2017, authorities criminally detained Bai, a church leader, after accusing her of organizing religious…

Gu Liya is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On June 23, 2017, authorities criminally detained Gu, a church leader, after accusing her of organizing religious meetings…

Zhu Jinlian is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On September 30, 2017, police from Pingyuan dounty, Shandong province, detained Zhu reportedly in relation to her religious…

He Zhexun is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On March 11, 2009, police arrested He in Xuchang city, Henan province reportedly in relation to his religious leadership…

Yang Meiyun is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On July 2, 2017, officers from the Keshan Branch of the Quzhou Public Security Bureau detained Yang while she was boarding…

Ibrahim El Zakzaky was detained for his religious belief, religious activity, and religious leadership role. 

On December 12, 2015, authorities arrested El Zakzaky, a Shi'a Muslim…

Zeenah Ibraheem was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On December 12, 2015, authorities arrested Ibraheem and her husband, El Zakzaky, a Shi'a Muslim cleric and leader of the…

Zeng Lingying is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On September 23, 2016, authorities criminally detained Yuan reportedly in relation to her religious work, organizing of…

Jiang Ruirui was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On July 25, 2014, authorities detained Jiang, a leader of the Church of Almighty God, reportedly while she was attending a…

Li Wanbi is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On May 17, 2017, authorities in Wanzhou District of Chongqing City detained Li reportedly in relation to her…

Wang Huanhuan was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On July 16, 2014, police from Ningguo City, Anhui Province, detained Wang reportedly in relation to her religious…

Gong Xingqi was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 17, 2016, the police in Weifang city, Shandong province detained Gong reportedly in relation to his religious…

Zheng Shihong is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On October 17, 2016, the police in Weifang city, Shandong province, detained Zheng reportedly in relation to her…

Yang Xia is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On October 17, 2016, the police in Weifang city, Shandong province, detained Yang reportedly in relation to her religious…

Ren Guixia is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On February 18, 2015, police detained Ren at her home reportedly in relation to her religious leadership role, organizing of…

Xu Zhaoling was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On August 9, 2014, officers from the Public Security Bureau of Wulian county, Rizhao city, Shandong province, detained Xu…

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

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

Geng Hongmei was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On August 1, 2015, officers from the the Taixing City Public Security Bureau in Jiangsu province detained Geng reportedly…

Wu Jikun was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On December 21, 2012, authorities in Anhui province detained Wu reportedly in relation to his preaching activities and…

Zhang Jie was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

In late 2012, police arrested Zhang reportedly in relation to his religious leadership role for 30 churches and his…

Marjan Davari is imprisoned for her religious association and translation of religious texts.

In September 2015, authorities arrested Davari, a translator and a former researcher at the Rah-…

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…

Li Hong is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On March 30, 2017, authorities arrested Li reportedly in relation to her religious belief, alleged leadership role,…

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…

Dai Ling’en is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On July 2, 2017, authorities arrested Dai in relation to his religious beliefs and alleged religious leadership role.…

Xiang Caihua is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On June 22, 2018, officers from Kuitun City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained Xiang reportedly in relation…

Cui Jing is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

In June 2018, police officers from the Kuitun City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained Cui reportedly in relation to…

Gui Chengxia is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

In June 2018, officers from the Kuitun City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained Gui reportedly in relation to…

He Chun is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

In October 2018, police officers from the Kuitun City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained He reportedly in…

Hu Wenlan is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On November 3, 2018, officers from the Yining City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained Hu, a member of the Church of…

Zhang Xue is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

In November 2018, officers from the Yining City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained Zhang reportedly in relation to…

Tang Xiaorong is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On November 3, 2018, officers from the Yining City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained Tang reportedly in…

Huang Qiuxiang is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On November 29, 2018, police from the Yining City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained Huang reportedly in…

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.…

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…

Zhao Haibin was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On February 17, 2017, officers from the Yangcheng Public Security Bureau of Jincheng detained Zhao reportedly in relation to…

Xiong Qunqun is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On June 29, 2018, officers from the Linchuan Branch of Fuzhou Public Security Bureau detained Xiong reportedly in…

Xiang Mingqiong is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On September 11, 2018, officers from the Wanzhou District Public Security Bureau detained Xiang reportedly in relation…

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

In February 2018, authorities arrested Mohammadi following a violent…