{"id":721,"date":"2020-07-21T10:20:04","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T10:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/?p=721"},"modified":"2020-07-14T13:10:20","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T13:10:20","slug":"timeline-of-ilham-tohtis-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/?p=721","title":{"rendered":"Timeline of Ilham Tohti\u2019s Case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Human Rights Watch<\/a> September 15, 2014<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late 2005<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in Beijing and teaching at Beijing\u2019s Minzu University of China, Ilham<\/a> Tohti establishes \u201cUighur Online<\/a>,\u201d a website published in Chinese and Uighur \u201cto provide Uighurs and Hans with a platform for discussion and exchange.\u201d The website serves as a platform for Uighur social and cultural issues, as well as Chinese policies in Xinjiang. Authorities periodically shut the website down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2008<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 15<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uighur Online is permanently shut down by the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2009<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 06<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his interview<\/a> with Radio Free Asia<\/em> (RFA<\/em>), Tohti criticizes Chinese policies in Xinjiang. He questions the central government\u2019s policy of encouraging Han people to move to Xinjiang where the unemployment rate among Uighurs remained high. Tohti also refers to the then-governor of Xinjiang as \u201cunqualified.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 26<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tohti is interrogated by the police, who tell him not to speak to the media again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 07<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tohti goes missing<\/a> after the July 5th<\/sup> violence in Urumqi<\/a>. Tohti is later found to have been detained by Chinese authorities for posting materials on his website that they allege \u201cstirred up\u201d the ethnic clashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/u><\/span><\/em>010<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

July<\/em> 25<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manager of Uighur Online, Gheyrat Niyaz<\/a>, was sentenced to 15 years for \u201cendangering state security\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/u><\/span><\/em>011<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 17<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ilham Tohti publishes an article, \u201cMy Ideals and the Career Path I Have Chosen\u201d\u300a\u6211\u7684\u7406\u60f3\u548c\u4e8b\u4e1a\u9009\u62e9\u4e4b\u8def<\/em>\u300b, explaining that his reason<\/a> for launching the website was to promote \u201cmutual understanding as well as dialogue among ethnic communities.\u201d Tohti writes that the website contained<\/a> no \u201cpro-independence, separatist, or irresponsible inflammatory postings\u201d nor \u201canything subversive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beijing\u2019s Minzu University of China cancels Tohti\u2019s class on economic development, immigration, and discrimination in Xinjiang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2012<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

August<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tohti is interrogated for 10 hours<\/a> after speaking to journalists and publishing an article on Uighur Online about Chinese armed forces<\/a> monitoring Uighurs during Ramadan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

October-November<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tohti is held under house arrest ahead of the Chinese leadership change during the 18th<\/sup> Party Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2013<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 02<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese authorities detain Tohti and his daughter at the Beijing Capital International Airport. After questioning, Tohti\u2019s daughter is allowed to board their intended flight to the United States<\/a>, while Tohti is forced to remain in Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November 04<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plainclothes policemen rams<\/a> Tohti\u2019s car while he was travelling with his wife and children, threatening to kill his family and warned him against speaking to foreign media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2014<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 15<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and the Beijing municipality raid Tohti\u2019s Beijing home and detain him. According<\/a> to Tohti\u2019s wife, Guzailai Nu’er, more than two dozen officers took part in the raid, taking computers and cellphones, among other items, from their house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 16<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spokesman<\/a> for the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry says Tohti has been subjected to criminal detention<\/a> for \u201ccommitting crimes and violating the law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 17<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sina Weibo begins censoring<\/a> searches for Tohti\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 25<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Urumqi Bureau of Public Security posts accusations against Tohti on its microblog<\/a>, accusing Tohti of inciting violence against the Chinese authorities and recruiting people to join a group plotting separatist activities. According to the post, Uighur Online had \u201cmade rumors, distorted and hyped up issues,\u201d \u201cspread separatist ideas,\u201d \u201cincited ethnic hatred,\u201d \u201cadvocated Xinjiang independence,\u201d and is behind \u201cseparatist activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February<\/em> 07<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radio Free Asia releases Tohti\u2019s statement<\/a> dated July 24, 2013, which he had requested to be made public if he was detained by the authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities detain<\/a> a number of Uighurs who had either been Tohti\u2019s students or volunteers to Uighur Online. On February 27, Tohti\u2019s wife Guzailai Nu’er tells Radio Free Asia (RFA) that authorities have notified family members of the arrests<\/a> of three of his students: Perhat Halmurat, Shohret Tursun, and Abdukeyum Ablimit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China<\/a>, students and volunteers who were detained in relation to Uighur Online include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Perhat Halmurat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Shohret Tursun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Abduqeyyum Ablimit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Mutellip Imin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Atikem Rozi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Abdumejid Jelil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Meryemgul<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Perhat Ablet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Atilamu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Dilshat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 20<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tohti’s wife, Guzailai Nu’er, says<\/a> she received a formal arrest notice of Tohti on charges of \u201cseparatism<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 01<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tohti is awarded the 2014<\/a> PEN\/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award, an award<\/a> given to writers who demonstrate courage in defending freedom of expression in the face of repression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

June 30<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five months after Tohti was detained in Beijing and transferred to Urumqi, Tohti\u2019s two lawyers<\/a> are allowed to visit him for the first time in Urumqi. They report that Tohti repeated his innocence and emphasized<\/a> that he has never supported separatism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 30<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tohti is officially indicted<\/a> with \u201cseparatism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

US State Department spokesperson<\/a> voices concern about Ilham Tohti and calls for his release; the Chinese government<\/a> urges the US government not to interfere with its sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

August 03<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawyers<\/a> visit Tohti again in Urumqi; he describes being ill-treated in detention, including<\/a> having been shackled at his feet for a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September 07<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pretrial hearing<\/a> for Tohti begins; he is allowed to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September 12<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After receiving a phone call from court officials, Tohti\u2019s lawyers announce that he will stand trial on separatism charges at the Urumqi Intermediate People’s Court on September 17<\/a>, at 10.30 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September 17<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trial<\/a> of Ilham Tohti on charges of separatism begins at Urumqi Intermediate People\u2019s Court in Urumqi, capital of XUAR. Foreign reporters and diplomats are not allowed<\/a> into the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November 21<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a sentencing hearing held inside the detention center in which Ilham Tohti was detained, the Xinjiang High People\u2019s Court upholds<\/a>his initial conviction to life imprisonment for \u201cseparatism.\u201d Tohti’s appeal was marred by repeated procedural violations<\/a>, including the failure to hold the appeal in public and to notify his lawyers in time. In a written application written from his prison Tohti had earlier disputed the closed-door proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Human Rights Watch<\/a>
https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2014\/09\/15\/timeline-ilham-tohtis-case<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Human Rights Watch September 15, 2014 Late 2005 Living in Beijing and teaching at Beijing\u2019s Minzu University of China, Ilham Tohti establishes \u201cUighur Online,\u201d a website published in Chinese and Uighur \u201cto provide Uighurs and Hans with a platform for discussion and exchange.\u201d The website serves as a platform for Uighur social and cultural issues, as well as Chinese policies in Xinjiang. Authorities periodically shut the website down. 2008 May 15 Uighur Online is permanently shut down by the government. 2009 March 06 In his interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA), Tohti criticizes Chinese policies in Xinjiang. He questions the central government\u2019s policy of encouraging Han people to move to Xinjiang where the unemployment rate among Uighurs remained high. Tohti also refers to the then-governor of Xinjiang as \u201cunqualified.\u201d March 26 Tohti is interrogated by the police, who tell him not to speak to the media again. July 07 Tohti goes missing after the July 5th violence in Urumqi. Tohti is later found to have been detained by Chinese authorities for posting materials on his website that they allege \u201cstirred up\u201d the ethnic clashes. 2010 July 25 Manager of Uighur Online, Gheyrat Niyaz, was sentenced to 15 years for \u201cendangering state security\u201d. 2011 January 17 Ilham Tohti publishes an article, \u201cMy Ideals and the Career Path I Have Chosen\u201d\u300a\u6211\u7684\u7406\u60f3\u548c\u4e8b\u4e1a\u9009\u62e9\u4e4b\u8def\u300b, explaining that his reason for launching the website was to promote \u201cmutual understanding as well as dialogue among ethnic communities.\u201d Tohti writes that the website contained no \u201cpro-independence, separatist, or irresponsible inflammatory postings\u201d nor \u201canything subversive.\u201d September Beijing\u2019s Minzu University of China cancels Tohti\u2019s class on economic development, immigration, and discrimination in Xinjiang. 2012 August Tohti is interrogated for 10 hours after speaking to journalists and publishing an article on Uighur Online about Chinese armed forces monitoring Uighurs during Ramadan. October-November Tohti is held under house arrest ahead of the Chinese leadership change during the 18th Party Congress. 2013 February 02 Chinese […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":387,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,20],"tags":[111,110],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=721"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":726,"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721\/revisions\/726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ilhamtohtiinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}