The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) condemns the death in custody of yet another Uyghur religious scholar, which was reported by relatives early this week. 88-year old Abdulnehed Mehsum died while being held in a political indoctrination camp in Hotan prefecture in November 2017, though the death was not reported until May 27, 2018. His death…
The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) has received confirmation from the relatives of Muhammad Salih Hajim of his death in custody. The prominent Quarnic scholar and Uyghur religious leader was 82 years old. On January 24, 2018, UHRP expressed concern about reports of his detention in Urumchi. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown, but he…
UYGHUR WOMAN HANDED 10-YEAR PRISON TERM OVER HEADSCARF CLAIM By Shohret Hoshur – A Chinese court in the country’s northwestern Xinjiang (East Turkistan) region has jailed a young Uyghur woman for 10 years over claims by a friend that she had promoted the wearing of headscarves, a form of Islamic dress increasingly restricted by Chinese authorities, sources…
XINJIANG AUTHORITIES SENTENCE UYGHUR SCHOLAR TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON By Shohret Hoshur – Authorities in northwest China’s Xinjiang (East Turkistan) region have sentenced a prominent Uyghur theological scholar sponsored by the country’s state-sanctioned Islamic Association to 10 years in prison following his return from Egypt, according to local sources. A faculty member at Xinjiang (East Turkistan) Islamic…
Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti celebrates his birthday on 25 October, shortly after he was awarded the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for human rights. But who is he and why is he in prison in China? Ilham Tohti is a respected economist who has highlighted abuses against China’s Uighur minority. A renowned Uighur intellectual in China, Ilham…
Sentence: Imprisoned since 25 May 2016 for 20 years Abdusemet Qarihaji (Chinese: Abudusaimaiti Kere’aji), born in 1926 in Yurchi Township of Kelpin County, is a respected Uyghur religious cleric and teacher from Kelpin County who was arrested on May 10th 2016 and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Aksu Prefectural People’s Intermediate Court on May…
Medium: Internet Charge:Anti-State Imprisoned: January or February, 2014 Nijat is one of seven students connected to the imprisoned Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti, who were charged with being involved with Uighurbiz during a secret trial held in November 2014, according to Tohti’s lawyer Li Fangping. Tohti, a writer and blogger, was taken from his home by police on January…
Sentence: Sentenced in April 2010 to life imprisonment for crimes allegedly committed during the July 2009 incidents; died in detention in November 2011 following allegations of abuse and torture. The Uyghur teenager named Noor-Ul-Islam Sherbaz (born on 16 January 1992) was detained on 27 July 2009 in Aksu because of his alleged participation in demonstrations in…
Medium: Internet Charge: Anti-State Imprisoned: October 1, 2009 Security officials arrested Niyaz, a website manager who is sometimes referred to as Hailaite Niyazi, in his home in the regional capital, Urumqi, according to international news reports. He was convicted of endangering state security and sentenced to 15 years in prison. According to reports, Niyaz was…
Nijat Azat, Shabnam Medium: Internet Charge: Anti-State Imprisoned: July or August 2009 Authorities imprisoned Azat and another journalist, Nureli Obul, in an apparent crackdown on managers of Uighur-language websites. Azat was sentenced to 10 years in prison and Obul to three years on charges of endangering state security, according to international news reports. The Uyghur American…