Name: Ramzan Bibi Country of Origin: Pakistan Background: Ramzan Bibi is a 55-year-old Ahmadi Muslim woman from Cheleki village, Punjab Province, Pakistan. Bibi is a member of the Ahmadi Muslim community, one of Pakistan’s most persecuted religious minority groups. Misuse and fraudulent use of blasphemy laws targets Pakistani Ahmadi Muslims and Christians for arrest. Additionally, …
Name: Ramy Kamel Saied Salid (commonly known as Ramy Kamel) Country of Origin: Egypt Background: Kamel is a notable Egyptian human rights defender and Coptic Christian who has participated in numerous events to highlight the ill-treatment of Egyptian minority groups. He is a founder of the Maspero Youth Union, which works towards ending discrimination towards …
Name: Chen Yu Area of Origin: China Background: Chen Yu is a Christian bookseller who, prior to his arrest, operated an online shop called Xiaomai (Wheat) Bookstore. Reason for his arrest and imprisonment: In late September 2019, Mr. Chen was charged with conducting “illegal business operations” and was fined 200,000 yuan (≈ USD $30,000). He …
Name: Jimmy Lai Area of Origin: Hong Kong Background: Notable democracy activist, human rights advocate, and critic of the Hong Kong government and its authorities Sentence: The length of Mr. Lai’s sentence has not been revealed yet, but he has officially been charged with allegedly colluding with foreign forces under the newly-implemented National Security Law …
Wisconsin Congressman Glenn Grothman and USCIRF Commissioner James A. Carr released an opinion piece on The Hill on August 20, highlighting the persecution of religious minorities and human rights advocates in Vietnam.
While standing on trial in a courtroom in Peshawar, Pakistan, Naseem was shot six times by a man whose name has not been released to the public.
Name: Gulmira Imin Country: China Background: Prior to her arrest, Imin held a local government position in the capital of Xinjiang, Urumqi. In 2009, Imin established the website Salkin, which focused on Uyghur culture and news in Xinjiang, and which took on a critical perspective of the Chinese government. Reason for Arrest: In July 2009, …
Name: Hu Shigen Age: 64 Country: China Background: Hu is a famous democracy activist, and in 1989 he was active in the Tienanmen Square Protests prior to founding the China Free Democratic Party and the China Free Labor Union. Reason for arrest: In July 2015, Hu was disappeared by CCP officials during a nationwide crackdown …
Name: Gedhun Choekyi Nyima Age: 31 Background: In 1995, following the death of the 10th Panchen Lama- the Buddhist spiritual leader one level below the Dalai Lama, Gedhun Nyima was chosen to be the 11th Panchen Lama on May 14. Reason for arrest: Only three days following Gedhun Nayima’s selection as the 11th Panchen Lama, …
Name: Artem Gerasimov Country: Russia Background: Gerasimov is originally a Danish citizen, though he was living in Crimea at the time of his arrest. Reason for arrest: On March 20, 2019, the Federal Security Service detained Gerasimov following their ambush on private homes in Yalta and Alupka, Crimea. Security officials searched through his belongings and …
