Urgent Action Uyghur scholar, professor Ilham Tohti detained in Beijing We are deeply concerned by reports that Beijing police have taken into custody prominent economics professor Ilham Tohti on January 15. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters: Ilham is suspected of breaking the law”. The public security organs have detained him in accordance with the law. The relevant departments will now deal with him in accordance with the law. The detention of Mr. Tohti, who is professor at Beijings Central University and the well-known commentator on Uyghur issues. He is editor of chief and commentator of the uighurbiz.net and He has been outspoken in support of human rights for Uyghur’s, appears to be part of a disturbing pattern of arrests and detentions of public interest lawyers, Internet activists, journalists, religious leaders and others who peacefully challenge official Chinese policies and actions. Tohti has been detained numerous times previously as a result of his advocacy. Three years ago, China jailed a Uighurbiz.net writer for 15 years for endangering state security. Gheyrat Niyaz had spoken to foreign journalists and posted critical articles online following the ethnic violence that killed almost 200 people in Urumqi, Xinjiangs capital, in 2009. We call on Chinese authorities to immediately account for the whereabouts of Mr. Tohti and his students and guarantee Mr. Tohti and his students the protections and freedoms to which they are entitled under Chinas international human rights commitments, including the freedom of expression. Professor, lham Tohti is Member of Uyghur pen centre PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Mandarin or your own language, calling on the Chinese authorities to: • release IIham Tohti immediately and unconditionally as he is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression; • provide information on his whereabouts, and the reasons and legal basis for his detention; • guarantee that he is not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment while in custody; • ensure that he is given access to a lawyer of his choice, his family and any medical treatment that he may require. PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO: General Office of the State Council Premier: Li Keqiang Beijing Fuyoujie No 2 Postal Code: 100017 People Fax: +86 1065961109 (Cc Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Minister of Public Security of the Peoples Republic of China Minister : Gou Shengkun 14 Dongchang’anjie Dongchengqu Beijingshi 100741 Peoples Republic of China Fax: +86 10 63099216 (it may be difficult to get through, please keep trying) Sincerely, PEN International Uyghur Centre Sandgatan 2 22350 Lund Sweden uyghurpen uyghurpen@uyghurpen
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 20:27:48 +0000
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