Prisoners of Conscience

Mussie Eyob

Name: Mussie Eyob Age: 40 Country/Area of Origin: Eritrea Background: Mussie Eyob converted to Christianity in 2008 Reason for Arrest: In 2011, while temporarily residing in Saudi Arabia, Mussie went to a local mosque in Jeddah to talk to attendees and preach about Christianity. He was arrested in February of 2011 for his evangelism, because …

Mussie Eyob Read More »

Zhang Shaojie

Name: Zhang Shaojie Country of Origin: China Background: Prior to his detention, Zhang Shaojie was the pastor of Nanle County Church in Henan Province, China, and he was also the local leader of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Reason for Arrest: In mid-November 2013, Pastor Zhang was detained at age 49 following several land disputes with …

Zhang Shaojie Read More »

Gao Zhisheng

Name: Gao Zhisheng Age: 56 Country/Area of Origin: China Background: Gao Zhisheng is one of the most widely respected human rights lawyers in China, notably for his work defending religious minorities and victims of state persecution, highlighting the torture of Falun Gong practitioners, and defending political activists and critics of the Chinese Communist Party. Reason …

Gao Zhisheng Read More »

Twen Theodros

Name: Twen Theodros Country/Area of Origin: Eritrea Background: Theodros is an Eritrean Christian Reason for Arrest: Theodros was originally arrested in Asmara, Eritrea in 2004 for her spiritual beliefs, but she was swiftly released after her father convinced her to sign documents pledging that she would neither evangelize nor engage in Christian worship or activities. …

Twen Theodros Read More »

Zhang Wen Shi

Name: Zhang Wen Shi (Chinese name) or Jang Moon Seok (Korean name) Country/Area of Origin: Zhang is ethnically Korean but is a Chinese citizen. Zhang is currently imprisoned in North Korea Reason for Arrest: Prior to his detention, Deacon Zhang resided in Changbai China, a town located on the border between China and North Korea. …

Zhang Wen Shi Read More »

Behnam Mahjoubi

Name: Behnam Mahjoubi Country/Area of Origin: Iran Background: Mahjoubi is a member of the Sufi Gonabadi Dervish religious minority community in Iran Reason for Arrest: In April 2018, Mahjoubi was arrested for his participation in a protest that had taken place in February and was in condemnation of the Iranian government’s mistreatment of religious minorities. …

Behnam Mahjoubi Read More »

Shamil Khakimov

Name: Shamil Khakimov Country/Area of Origin: Tajikistan Background: Shamil Khakimov is a Jehovah’s Witness Reason for Arrest: In February 2019, then 68-year-old Shamil Khakimov was arrested in Khukad, Tajikistan, due to his identity as a Jehovah’s Witness and in response to his work peacefully evangelizing and sharing his beliefs. Khakimov was accused of “inciting religious …

Shamil Khakimov Read More »

Ramzan Bibi

Name: Ramzan Bibi Country/Area 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, …

Ramzan Bibi Read More »