The Guardian-Chinese authorities reportedly sentence Uyghur professor to life in prison
September 24, 2023 2 min 368 words
这则报道揭示了中国当局对维吾尔族知识分子的镇压行为的持续严重性。拉希勒·达吾特，一位杰出的维吾尔族教授，因被指控“危害国家安全”而被判处无期徒刑，这一消息令人震惊。她是维吾尔民间传说和传统研究的专家，因其领域的专长而备受尊敬。然而，她在2018年被判定“煽动分裂主义”的罪名，这无疑是对学术自由和人权的极大损害。 Dui Hua基金会等人权组织多年来一直在寻找达吾特的下落，而她的命运仍然不明确，这引发了对她健康状况、家庭联系权等方面的担忧。这一事件凸显了中国政府对维吾尔族知识分子的迫害问题，而达吾特只是其中一个例子。 此外，报道提到，达吾特将终身丧失政治权利，这进一步凸显了中国当局的镇压力度。同时，许多国际知名学府，包括哈佛、康奈尔、不列颠哥伦比亚、宾夕法尼亚、华盛顿、印第安纳和剑桥等大学，都呼吁中国当局释放达吾特。这反映出国际学术界对于学术自由的高度关切，以及对中国当局人权侵犯行为的强烈反感。 最后，达吾特的女儿也在呼吁中国政府释放她的母亲，强调她的母亲是无辜的。这个故事提醒我们，国际社会需要关注中国维吾尔族地区的人权状况，坚定支持言论自由和学术自由，同时促使中国当局结束对知识分子和少数民族的压迫。
A leading Uyghur professor who disappeared six years ago is reported to have sentenced to life in prison by Chinese authorities for “endangering state security”.
Rahile Dawut, 57, who specialises in the study of Uyghur folklore and traditions and is considered an expert in her field, lost an appeal over her sentence after being convicted in 2018 on charges of promoting “splittism”, according to the US-based Dui Hua Foundation human rights group.
The group has spent years trying to locate Dawut. In a statement, it said it had received the information from a Chinese official and that it was seeking more information about Dawut from the government, including where she was, the state of her health and her right to have contact with family members.
John Kamm, Dui Hua’s executive director, said: “The sentencing of Professor Rahile Dawut to life in prison is a cruel tragedy, a great loss for the Uyghur people, and for all who treasure academic freedom. I call for her immediate release and safe return to her family.”
Dawut is believed to be among more than 300 Uyghur intellectuals who are known to have been detained, arrested and imprisoned since 2016. An estimated 1.5 million Uyghur people have been detained in “re-education” camps.
At the time of her arrest in December 2017, Dawut was teaching at Xinjiang University College of Humanities, where she also founded the Ethnic Minorities Research Centre in 2007.
In addition to her sentence, Dawut will be deprived of political rights for life, Dui Hua said.
The many academic institutions with which Dawut is associated through her work, including the universities of Harvard, Cornell, British Columbia, Pennsylvania, Washington, Indiana and Cambridge, have joined the appeal urging Chinese authorities to release her.
In a statement through Dui Hua, Dawat’s daughter Akeda Pulati called on the Chinese government to free her mother. “I worry about my mother every single day. The thought of my innocent mother having to spend her life in prison brings unbearable pain. China, show your mercy and release my innocent mother,” she said.