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Ilham Tohti, a renowned Uyghur intellectual, has spent the last ten years unjustly imprisoned for his peaceful advocacy.  

The charges against Ilham Tohti stem from his writings and teachings, which explained the systemic discrimination faced by Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.   

Tohti’s life sentence, handed down on 23 September 2014 after a trial lacking fairness and transparency, is a blatant violation of his rights. 

During his imprisonment, Tohti has reportedly been subjected to torture and ill treatment, including wrist and ankle shackling, prolonged solitary confinement and denial of adequate medical care and food, as well as political indoctrination. 

His freedom would be a crucial step for advancing human rights and justice in China – while his ongoing imprisonment is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis faced by Uyghur, Kazakhs and other Turkic Muslim groups living in China.   

Sign the petition and join us in demanding the Chinese authorities guarantee his immediate and unconditional release. 

Sign the Petition

  Our Petition
 
 

President Xi Jinping

Dear President Xi Jinping, 

I am writing to express my profound concern regarding the continued imprisonment of Ilham Tohti, a distinguished Uyghur intellectual who has been unjustly incarcerated for the past decade. His tireless advocacy for dialogue and understanding between Uyghurs and Han Chinese has tragically resulted in a life sentence on unfounded charges of “separatism”. 

Ilham Tohti’s conviction stems solely from his writings and teachings, which sought to shed light on the systemic discrimination faced by Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. His trial, which lacked fairness and transparency, culminated in a life sentence on 23 September 2014, representing a blatant violation of his fundamental rights. Reports indicate that during his imprisonment, Tohti has endured severe mistreatment, including wrist and ankle shackling, prolonged solitary confinement, inadequate medical care, food deprivation, and forced political indoctrination. 

Ilham Tohti’s approach provided a blueprint for peaceful coexistence and understanding. The international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and numerous human rights organizations, have repeatedly called for his release. His continued imprisonment is a grave injustice that must be rectified immediately. His freedom is essential for the promotion of human rights and justice in China. 

I urge your government to: 

  • Immediately and unconditionally release Ilham Tohti, recognizing him as a prisoner of conscience detained solely for his peaceful advocacy. 
  • Ensure that pending his release, he is not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment, is granted unrestricted and regular access to his family and legal representation of his choosing, and can communicate with his daughter overseas through regular video calls. 
  • Guarantee that his family is protected from any form of retaliation, harassment, or intimidation. 
  • Lift the asset freezes imposed on him and grant him the right to appeal his conviction and sentence. 
  • End the harassment and persecution of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic Muslim groups, including intellectuals and activists who peacefully express their views and advocate for their community’s rights. 

Ilham Tohti’s immediate and unconditional release is imperative not only for his sake but also for the broader cause of human rights and justice. His continued imprisonment contravenes international human rights laws and principles. 

I earnestly hope that you will consider this appeal with the gravity it deserves and take prompt action to rectify this injustice.  

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]