Sep 23, 2014

UNPO Denounces Tohti’s Life Sentence


The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) condemns the shameful sentence of life imprisonment for Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti on “separatism” charges in China on Tuesday 23 September 2014. After the two-day trial, the court also ordered the confiscation of all of Mr Tohti’s assets.

The tightly-controlled trial of the prominent Uyghur academic in China has garnered international attention and criticism. The United Nations, European Union, the United States and human rights groups have repeatedly called for the release of Mr Tohti, who was detained along with seven Uyghur students at his apartment in January this year [2014]. The Chinese Government accused him of leading a dissident group which colluded with separatists and used inter alia his status to recruit new followers. Mr Tohti denies his charge and his lawyer stated that he will file an appeal.

Ilham Tohti, an economics professor at Beijing’s Minzu University, is the founder of the website ‘Uyghur Online’ where he published essays and policy proposals constructively criticising Beijing`s repressive policies in East Turkestan (‘Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region’) and promoting the rights of the Muslim Uyghur ethnic group. Mr Tohti is widely known for using his prominent role to develop mutual understanding and dialogue between Uyghurs and Han Chinese in the region.

Since 2009, Ilham Tohti and his family have suffered under house arrest, surveillance and detentions for his advocacy of Uyghur minority rights. While in detention, he has been tortured, neglected and deprived of food for more than one week and shackled for approximately 20 days. 

UNPO urges the international community to pressure the Chinese Government to immediately and unconditionally release Ilham Tohti, cease all attempts at silencing peaceful dissent, and stop its deplorable “strike-hard” anti-terrorism campaign. UNPO calls upon the Chinese Government to act in accordance with international human rights standards, democracy and the rule of law.

It is vital that Beijing appropriately addresses the longstanding inter-cultural tensions and deteriorating human rights situation of Uyghurs in the region. China’s tough stance on the moderate and peaceful advocacy of Ilham Tohti may further escalate the already alarming security situation fuelled by State discrimination in areas of education, religion, language, housing and employment, as well as suppression of political participation and peaceful protests.     

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