Professor Ilham Tohti has fought for equal treatment towards the ethnic minority of the Uyghur living in China for more than twenty years. Over and over again, he has urged the Chinese government to implement the principle of autonomy as it is written out in the Chinese Constitution and has called for the reconciliation between the various ethnic groups living in Xinjiang. He never chose violence the ways of violence or separatism. In spite of the fact that Ilham Tohti expressed a moderate and conciliatory voice for his people, he was nevertheless sentenced to a sentence of life in prison two years ago.

During our conference we would like to give the floor to various experts who will talk on the subject of the situation of the Uyghur as it stands nowadays, and will discuss on different avenues and perspectives which might bring about some progress in the region. We will seize the opportunity to honor the long time engagement of Ilham Tohti in promoting peace, and take a strong position in favor of his release.

We also hope to attract more attention from the German public to this particular subject.

This will also be the launch event for the Ilham Tohti Initiative, please click here to find out more.

There will be simultaneous translation in German and English.

Click here for the conference programme and here for the invitation.